# Roles

> Roles (PSROLEDEFN) are named bundles of permission lists. Users get roles, not permission lists directly.

---

Site [llms.txt](/llms.txt)

---

## Roles

**URL:** `/roles`

Roles (PSROLEDEFN) are named bundles of permission lists. Users get roles, not permission lists directly.









<div class="video-container my-4 text-center">
  <video 
    class="img-fluid rounded shadow-sm"
    style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; border: 1px solid #dee2e6;"
    autoplay
    muted
    loop
    controls
    
    playsinline
    preload="metadata">
    <source src="/videos/pslens-roles-portal-administrator.mp4" type="video/mp4">
    Your browser does not support the video tag.
  </video>
  
    <div class="figure-caption text-center mt-2 font-italic small text-muted">
      Walkthrough: Exploring Roles in psLens
    </div>
  
</div>


<figure><img src="/images/screenshots/role-example.png"
			alt="Role detail page showing included permission lists, assigned users, and aggregated access"><figcaption>
			<p>Role detail page with the permission lists, users, and aggregate access needed to understand what the role actually grants</p>
		</figcaption>
</figure>


### What You Can Do

- **View Included Permission Lists:** See the list of permission lists assigned to the role.
- **View Assigned Users:** See which users are assigned this role.
- **Compare Roles (Cross-Database Diff Tool):** Compare two role definitions across databases (or within the same environment) at `/roles/compare` (accessible from the **Security > Compare Roles** sidebar menu or search header). Diffs assigned permission lists, assigned users (with dynamic assignment flags), effective aggregate page/menu, web library, service operation, CI, process group, and query access groups, plus process notifications/distributions. Features continuous-scroll layout with sticky navigation, summary metrics, and Markdown export.
- **View Authorizations:** See the aggregated Tools Access, Service Operations, Component Interfaces, Component & Page Access, Query Tree Tables, and Web Libraries granted by the permission lists assigned to the role.
- **Metadata Inspection:** See the role's description and last modified information.

### When It's Useful

- Understanding what an unfamiliar role grants.
- Checking whether a role contains permission lists that are unexpectedly broad.
- Finding all users who have a particular role.
