When reading about Linux, you will likely see the terms "root user" or "superuser" used frequently. These refer to the administrative account in Linux. The root user in Linux is a special account that can be used to control the system. The root account has total control over the system; a person using the root account can see or change any file on the system, and can run any program. However, with great power comes great responsibility: unlike regular user accounts, the root user is capable of deleting every file on your computer, configuring the computer so that it is unusable, or other bad things.
The root account is to powerful for daily use. You don't want to use it to compose Abiword documents or to surf the Internet. Use your regular user account for these tasks instead.
You should receive a root password along with your computer. If you need to perform administrative tasks on your computer, you will need this password, so be sure to keep it in a safe place. In general, you want to keep this password (and all passwords) private.
