Summary  
This chapter explains how to manage user groups using commands to create and delete groups, assign users to groups or change their primary group, and verify group membership.

General domain of usage  
System administration and resource access control

Understanding how to **manage user groups** on your Linux system can add **structure and organization** to **user management**, proving to be a **valuable skill**. Creating **user groups** and effectively managing them enables you to control **access to files and resources** on your server or computer **efficiently**. This becomes particularly **crucial** when working in **teams** or on **projects** that require **data sharing** and **security**. In this section, we will delve into the process of **creating user groups**, **adding users** to them.

This command creates a new group with the name `<mygroup>`.


<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <link
      rel="stylesheet"
      href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/notiflix@2.7.0/dist/notiflix-aio-2.7.0.min.css"
    />
    <style>
      html {
        box-sizing: border-box;
      }

      *,
      *::after,
      *::before {
        box-sizing: inherit;
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      input {
        font: inherit;
        border: none;
        padding: 0;
        outline: transparent;
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      }

      .text-widget {
        max-width: 100%;
        width: 100%;
        margin: 0 auto;
        padding: 10px;
        background-color: #202634;
        border: 1px solid #ccc;
        border-radius: 10px;
        display: flex;
        align-items: center;
      }

      .text-field {
        padding: 5px 12px;
        width: 100%;
        color: #fff;
        background-color: #2f3747;
        border-radius: 3px;
        margin-right: 10px;
      }

      .copy-button {
        display: flex;
        align-items: center;
        justify-content: center;
        padding: 8px;
        border: none;
        background-color: #2f3747;
        border-radius: 5px;
        color: #fff;
        cursor: pointer;
      }
    </style>
  </head>

  <body>
    <div class="text-widget">
      <input
        type="text"
        class="text-field"
        id="widget1-text"
        value="sudo groupadd <mygroup>"
      />
      <button class="copy-button" onclick="handleClick('widget1-text', 'widget1-notify')">
        <svg
          width="20"
          height="20"
          x="0"
          y="0"
          viewBox="0 0 32 32"
          style="enable-background: new 0 0 512 512"
          xml:space="preserve"
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        >
          <g>
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              d="m26.121 6.707-3.828-3.828A2.98 2.98 0 0 0 20.172 2H12a3.003 3.003 0 0 0-3 3v1H8a3.003 3.003 0 0 0-3 3v18a3.003 3.003 0 0 0 3 3h12a3.003 3.003 0 0 0 3-3v-1h1a3.003 3.003 0 0 0 3-3V8.829a2.982 2.982 0 0 0-.879-2.122ZM22 5.414 23.586 7H22ZM20 28H8a1.001 1.001 0 0 1-1-1V9a1.001 1.001 0 0 1 1-1h8v3a2.002 2.002 0 0 0 2 2h3v14a1 1 0 0 1-1 1ZM18 9.414 19.586 11H18ZM24 24h-1V12.829a2.982 2.982 0 0 0-.879-2.122l-3.828-3.828A2.98 2.98 0 0 0 16.171 6H11V5a1.001 1.001 0 0 1 1-1h8v3a2.002 2.002 0 0 0 2 2h3v14a1 1 0 0 1-1 1Zm-6-8h-8a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h8a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Zm0 4h-8a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h8a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Zm0 4h-8a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h8a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Z"
              fill="#a6b8e6"
              opacity="1"
              data-original="#000000"
              class=""
            ></path>
          </g>
        </svg>
      </button>
    </div>
    <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/notiflix@2.7.0/dist/notiflix-aio-2.7.0.min.js"></script>



    <script>
      const handleClick = (textId, notifyId) => {
        const textField = document.getElementById(textId);
        const text = textField.value;
        navigator.clipboard.writeText(text);
        Notiflix.Notify.Success("Copied to clipboard!", {
          timeout: 2000,
          width: "260px",
          position: "center-top",
          textColor: "#ff5549",
        });
      };
    </script>
  </body>
</html>

This command changes the group of the user `<username>` to the specified group `<mygroup>`. It is used to assign a user to a specific group.



<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
    <link
      rel="stylesheet"
      href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/notiflix@2.7.0/dist/notiflix-aio-2.7.0.min.css"
    />
    <link
      rel="stylesheet"
      href="https://staging-content-media-cdn.codefinity.com/courses/c1087363-9025-4c37-8d5e-983a32a007e9/text-boxes-section/copyable-text-box.css"
    />
  </head>
  <body>
    <div class="text-widget">
      
      <input type="text" class="text-field" id="widget1-text" value="sudo usermod -g <mygroup> <username>" />
      <button class="copy-button" onclick="handleClick('widget1-text', 'widget1-notify')">
        <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 32 32" xml:space="preserve">
          <g>
            <path
              d="m26.121 6.707-3.828-3.828A2.98 2.98 0 0 0 20.172 2H12a3.003 3.003 0 0 0-3 3v1H8a3.003 3.003 0 0 0-3 3v18a3.003 3.003 0 0 0 3 3h12a3.003 3.003 0 0 0 3-3v-1h1a3.003 3.003 0 0 0 3-3V8.829a2.982 2.982 0 0 0-.879-2.122ZM22 5.414 23.586 7H22ZM20 28H8a1.001 1.001 0 0 1-1-1V9a1.001 1.001 0 0 1 1-1h8v3a2.002 2.002 0 0 0 2 2h3v14a1 1 0 0 1-1 1ZM18 9.414 19.586 11H18ZM24 24h-1V12.829a2.982 2.982 0 0 0-.879-2.122l-3.828-3.828A2.98 2.98 0 0 0 16.171 6H11V5a1.001 1.001 0 0 1 1-1h8v3a2.002 2.002 0 0 0 2 2h3v14a1 1 0 0 1-1 1Zm-6-8h-8a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h8a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Zm0 4h-8a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h8a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Zm0 4h-8a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h8a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Z"
              fill="#a6b8e6"
            ></path>
          </g>
        </svg>
      </button>
    </div>
    <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/notiflix@2.7.0/dist/notiflix-aio-2.7.0.min.js"></script>
    <script src="https://staging-content-media-cdn.codefinity.com/courses/c1087363-9025-4c37-8d5e-983a32a007e9/text-boxes-section/copyable-text-box.js"></script>
  </body>
</html>

This command shows the groups that the user `<username>` belongs to. It helps to check which groups a specific user is a member of.



<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
    <link
      rel="stylesheet"
      href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/notiflix@2.7.0/dist/notiflix-aio-2.7.0.min.css"
    />
    <link
      rel="stylesheet"
      href="https://staging-content-media-cdn.codefinity.com/courses/c1087363-9025-4c37-8d5e-983a32a007e9/text-boxes-section/copyable-text-box.css"
    />
  </head>
  <body>
    <div class="text-widget">
      
      <input type="text" class="text-field" id="widget2-text" value="groups <username>" />
      <button class="copy-button" onclick="handleClick('widget2-text', 'widget1-notify')">
        <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 32 32" xml:space="preserve">
          <g>
            <path
              d="m26.121 6.707-3.828-3.828A2.98 2.98 0 0 0 20.172 2H12a3.003 3.003 0 0 0-3 3v1H8a3.003 3.003 0 0 0-3 3v18a3.003 3.003 0 0 0 3 3h12a3.003 3.003 0 0 0 3-3v-1h1a3.003 3.003 0 0 0 3-3V8.829a2.982 2.982 0 0 0-.879-2.122ZM22 5.414 23.586 7H22ZM20 28H8a1.001 1.001 0 0 1-1-1V9a1.001 1.001 0 0 1 1-1h8v3a2.002 2.002 0 0 0 2 2h3v14a1 1 0 0 1-1 1ZM18 9.414 19.586 11H18ZM24 24h-1V12.829a2.982 2.982 0 0 0-.879-2.122l-3.828-3.828A2.98 2.98 0 0 0 16.171 6H11V5a1.001 1.001 0 0 1 1-1h8v3a2.002 2.002 0 0 0 2 2h3v14a1 1 0 0 1-1 1Zm-6-8h-8a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h8a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Zm0 4h-8a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h8a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Zm0 4h-8a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h8a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Z"
              fill="#a6b8e6"
            ></path>
          </g>
        </svg>
      </button>
    </div>
    <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/notiflix@2.7.0/dist/notiflix-aio-2.7.0.min.js"></script>
    <script src="https://staging-content-media-cdn.codefinity.com/courses/c1087363-9025-4c37-8d5e-983a32a007e9/text-boxes-section/copyable-text-box.js"></script>
  </body>
</html>

This command deletes the group with the name `<mygroup>`. It is used to remove a group if it is no longer needed.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
    <link
      rel="stylesheet"
      href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/notiflix@2.7.0/dist/notiflix-aio-2.7.0.min.css"
    />
    <link
      rel="stylesheet"
      href="https://staging-content-media-cdn.codefinity.com/courses/c1087363-9025-4c37-8d5e-983a32a007e9/text-boxes-section/copyable-text-box.css"
    />
  </head>
  <body>
    <div class="text-widget">
      
      <input type="text" class="text-field" id="widget3-text" value="sudo groupdel <mygroup>" />
      <button class="copy-button" onclick="handleClick('widget3-text', 'widget1-notify')">
        <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 32 32" xml:space="preserve">
          <g>
            <path
              d="m26.121 6.707-3.828-3.828A2.98 2.98 0 0 0 20.172 2H12a3.003 3.003 0 0 0-3 3v1H8a3.003 3.003 0 0 0-3 3v18a3.003 3.003 0 0 0 3 3h12a3.003 3.003 0 0 0 3-3v-1h1a3.003 3.003 0 0 0 3-3V8.829a2.982 2.982 0 0 0-.879-2.122ZM22 5.414 23.586 7H22ZM20 28H8a1.001 1.001 0 0 1-1-1V9a1.001 1.001 0 0 1 1-1h8v3a2.002 2.002 0 0 0 2 2h3v14a1 1 0 0 1-1 1ZM18 9.414 19.586 11H18ZM24 24h-1V12.829a2.982 2.982 0 0 0-.879-2.122l-3.828-3.828A2.98 2.98 0 0 0 16.171 6H11V5a1.001 1.001 0 0 1 1-1h8v3a2.002 2.002 0 0 0 2 2h3v14a1 1 0 0 1-1 1Zm-6-8h-8a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h8a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Zm0 4h-8a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h8a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Zm0 4h-8a1 1 0 0 1 0-2h8a1 1 0 0 1 0 2Z"
              fill="#a6b8e6"
            ></path>
          </g>
        </svg>
      </button>
    </div>
    <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/notiflix@2.7.0/dist/notiflix-aio-2.7.0.min.js"></script>
    <script src="https://staging-content-media-cdn.codefinity.com/courses/c1087363-9025-4c37-8d5e-983a32a007e9/text-boxes-section/copyable-text-box.js"></script>
  </body>
</html>

These commands allow system administrators to easily manage user groups and assign them access rights to various resources and files in the system.

Why is managing user groups important in Linux?

Learning Linux is valuable for many IT professions. For system administrators, DevOps engineers, and backend developers, it enables efficient server management, automation of software development and deployment, and the development and management of server-side applications. For network administrators, cybersecurity professionals, and data analysts, Linux knowledge helps effectively manage networks, ensure security, and analyze data.

Learn what Linux is, explore its key advantages, and understand why it’s a preferred choice among developers. Choose a Linux distribution to work with throughout the course.

Set up a virtual environment and install Linux on your computer to safely practice commands without affecting your main system.

Gain essential Linux skills such as using the terminal, navigating files, installing programs, and keeping the system updated.

Discover how to manage users and groups, configure file permissions, and control access rights within the Linux environment.

Working with User Groups

Awesome!

Working with User Groups