# Why are system and super admin both mod and admin?

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-are-system-and-super-admin-both-mod-and-admin/369440
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [June 9, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-are-system-and-super-admin-both-mod-and-admin/369440 "2025-06-09T17:54:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
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### Author: ![JammyDodger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jammydodger/32/254611_2.png) [@JammyDodger](https://meta.discourse.org/u/JammyDodger)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-are-system-and-super-admin-both-mod-and-admin/369440/4 "2025-06-09T20:14:36Z")

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> [@ondrej](#):
>
> Not sure what you’re referring to when you say ‘super admin’. Discourses’ nomenclature only uses ‘admin’ and ‘moderator’ together they are referred to as ‘staff’

There is a ‘special admin’ role as well who can do a couple of extra tricks. In the guide it’s referred to as Developer:

> [@Understanding user statuses, roles, and permissions](https://meta.discourse.org/t/understanding-user-statuses-roles-and-permissions/35171/1):
>
> ### Developer
> 
> Special account used to install Discourse
> 
> - View [rack-mini-profiler](https://github.com/MiniProfiler/rack-mini-profiler) showing timings on the page
> - Impersonate any account including admins
> - Automatically becomes admin and has all admin rights

I’m not sure why system is both. An admin should be able to do everything a moderator can. Maybe it’s just to cover all the bases and make double sure they can really do everything. 🤷

But for the ‘special’ admin/first admin created along with the site - I think that used to only be granted the admin role, but this was changed to add the mod role too. I believe it was something to do with sites more likely to have only one person running the place in the beginning and auto-adding the mod role makes sure they don’t miss any of the mod notifications.

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