How to manage user roles in Bubble

You manage user roles in Bubble by adding a Role field to the User datatype, assigning a role when the user is created or updated, and then enforcing access using Privacy Rules and conditions in workflows and UI elements. Bubble does not have a built‑in role system, so you create your own using fields and Privacy Rules.

How to Set Up User Roles

The simplest and most reliable way to manage roles in Bubble is to add a field directly to the User. Usually this is a text field or an option set. Option sets are safer because the values can’t be typed incorrectly.

• Create an Option Set called Role with options like Admin, Staff, Customer.
• In Data → Data types → User, add a field role (type: Role).
• Assign a role during sign up or in the admin dashboard using a workflow: Make changes to current user → role = Role's Admin.

How to Enforce Roles Correctly

Roles mean nothing unless you actually restrict data and actions. You do this with Privacy Rules and UI/workflow conditions.

• Go to Privacy → User → add a rule like “When This User's role is Role's Admin → allow all fields”.
• For sensitive data types (Orders, Payments, etc.), create rules such as “When Current User's role is Role's Admin → view all Orders”.
• Hide admin‑only UI by setting Element is visible only when Current User's role is Admin.
• Protect workflows by adding “Only when Current User's role is Admin” on actions that should be restricted.

Example: Protecting an Admin Page

// Page is loaded → redirect non-admins
When Page is loaded
Only when Current User's role is not Role's Admin
→ Navigate to index

This ensures even if a user manually types your admin page URL, they cannot access it.

Key Principles

• Roles live in the database (User.role).
• Privacy Rules protect data, not UI. Always set them.
• Conditions protect actions, like deleting or modifying things.
• Use option sets to avoid messy text‑based roles.