Adding Custom User Roles in WordPress with Code Snippets

Creating Custom User Roles in WordPress

Custom Code Solution

This code creates a custom user role with specific capabilities. Place this code in your theme's functions.php file or in a site-specific plugin:

Add a new custom role with basic capabilities:

function add_custom_role() {
    add_role(
        'custom_editor',
        'Custom Editor',
        array(
            'read' => true,
            'edit_posts' => true,
            'delete_posts' => true,
            'upload_files' => true,
            'publish_posts' => true,
            'edit_published_posts' => true,
            'delete_published_posts' => true,
        )
    );
}
add_action('init', 'add_custom_role');

Remove the custom role (useful when deactivating theme/plugin):

function remove_custom_role() {
    remove_role('custom_editor');
}
register_deactivation_hook(__FILE__, 'remove_custom_role');

Copy capabilities from an existing role to create a modified version:

function add_custom_role_from_existing() {
    $editor = get_role('editor');
    add_role(
        'custom_editor_plus',
        'Custom Editor Plus',
        $editor->capabilities
    );
    
    // Add extra capabilities
    $custom_role = get_role('custom_editor_plus');
    $custom_role->add_cap('manage_categories');
    $custom_role->add_cap('moderate_comments');
}
add_action('init', 'add_custom_role_from_existing');

Key Capabilities You Can Assign

Common capabilities you can use in your custom roles:

• read - View posts and pages
• edit_posts - Edit posts
• publish_posts - Publish posts
• edit_pages - Edit pages
• publish_pages - Publish pages
• delete_posts - Delete posts
• upload_files - Upload media files
• edit_published_posts - Edit already published posts
• manage_categories - Manage post categories
• moderate_comments - Moderate comments
• manage_options - Access settings pages

Plugin Solutions

If you prefer a plugin solution, these options are reliable:

1. Members - Free plugin with role editor
2. User Role Editor - Popular free plugin with extensive capabilities management
3. Capability Manager Enhanced - Advanced role management tool

Important Notes

• Always backup your database before modifying user roles
• Test new roles in a staging environment first
• Consider security implications when assigning capabilities
• Custom roles persist in the database even after theme/plugin deactivation unless explicitly removed
• Use map_meta_cap filter for fine-grained capability control
• Remember that some capabilities might require others to work properly

For maximum security, only assign capabilities that users absolutely need for their tasks.