Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) Practice Exam

The root account in macOS is a highly privileged account that has unrestricted access to all files and commands on the system. This account can perform any action, including reading, writing, and deleting system files, making it crucial for system maintenance and administrative tasks.

In contrast, standard accounts have limited privileges and do not possess the ability to modify system files. Admin accounts can perform many administrative tasks, including installing software and changing system settings, but they still operate with some restrictions regarding system-level access compared to the root account. Guest accounts are designed for temporary users with minimal access, primarily intended for basic browsing without altering system files.

The root account is typically disabled by default due to the risks associated with granting such extensive privileges, making understanding its role important in managing macOS security and system integrity.