sudo stands for “Superuser Do” and is a command in Linux and Unix-based operating systems that allows a permitted user to execute commands with superuser (root) privileges. In essence, it lets you run commands as another user, typically the root user, which is the most powerful user on the system.

Why sudo is Important:

The root user has unrestricted access to all files, settings, and commands on the system. Running commands as root allows you to install software, modify system files, and configure system-wide settings. However, using the root account directly can be risky because it can inadvertently cause system-wide changes or damage if misused.

Using sudo allows a regular user to execute specific administrative tasks without logging in as the root user. This enhances security because:

  • Root privileges are granted temporarily (just for the specific command).
  • It allows the system administrator to control and log which users can execute sudo and which commands they can run.

Example:

Suppose you want to install software using the package manager on Ubuntu (apt). A regular user doesn’t have permission to install software system-wide, but you can use sudo to gain temporary root access for that command:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

In this example:

  • sudo apt update runs the apt update command with superuser privileges, allowing you to update the system’s package list.
  • sudo apt install apache2 installs the apache2 web server with root privileges.