What is the Difference Between Adduser and Useradd?

The useradd and adduser commands in Linux are used to create new user accounts on a system. While they perform similar tasks, they differ in their execution methods and availability across distributions.

useradd is a lower-level command that is available on all Linux distributions. It requires additional parameters to set up the account entirely. Some key features of useradd include:

• Does not create a home directory for the new user by default.
• Does not ask for a password.
• Does not ask for any additional information.

On the other hand, adduser is a higher-level command that is not available on all Linux distributions. It is essentially a Perl script that uses the useradd command in the background. Some key features of adduser include:

• Creates a new group.
• Creates the home directory for the new user under /home.
• Asks for the password.
• Asks for additional information such as Full Name, Room number, Work phone, and Home phone.
• Provides an interactive prompt, making it more beginner-friendly.

In summary, useradd is a more basic command that requires additional parameters for setting up a user account, while adduser is a higher-level command that provides a more interactive and user-friendly experience. If you are working with a script or require portability across different Linux systems, useradd might be the better choice. However, if you are a beginner or prefer a more interactive approach, adduser could be more suitable.

Comparative Table: Adduser vs Useradd

The main differences between the adduser and useradd commands are as follows:

In summary, adduser is a more user-friendly and interactive command for adding users with standard settings, while useradd provides complete control over the user creation process and is more portable across different Linux systems. Both commands add user accounts to a Linux system, and adduser serves as a front-end for useradd.