Editing Sysop

{{short description|Short-hand for user with administrative permissions on a multi-user system}}
{{For|Systems Operator (aircraft crew member)|Flight engineer}}
{{for|sysops ("admins") on Wikipedia|Wikipedia:Administrators|selfref=y}}
A '''sysop''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɪ|s|ɒ|p}}; an abbreviation of '''system operator''') is an administrator of a multi-user computer system, such as a [[bulletin board system]] (BBS) or an [[Online service provider|online service]] [[virtual community]].<ref name="netlingo">Jansen, E. & James, V. (2002). NetLingo: the Internet dictionary. Netlingo Inc., Oxnard, CA</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=What is a Sysop? (with pictures)|url=http://www.easytechjunkie.com/what-is-a-sysop.htm|access-date=2022-01-30|website=EasyTechJunkie|language=en-US}}</ref> The phrase may also be used to refer to administrators of other [[Internet]]-based [[Computer network|network]] services.<ref name="solaris">Rhodes, D. & Butler, D. (2002). Solaris Operating Environment Boot Camp. Prentice Hall Professional.</ref> Sysops typically do not earn money, but donate their activity to the community.<ref name=":0" />

'''Co-sysops''' are users who may be granted certain admin privileges on a BBS. Generally, they help validate users and monitor discussion [[Internet forum|forums]]. Some co-sysops serve as file clerks, reviewing, describing, and publishing newly [[upload]]ed files into appropriate [[download]] directories.<ref name="hacking">Gupta, A. (2004). Hacking In The Computer World. Mittal Publications.</ref>

Historically, the term ''system operator'' applied to operators of any computer system, especially a [[mainframe computer]]. In general, a sysop is a person who oversees the operation of a server, typically in a large computer system. Usage of the term became popular in the late 1980s and 1990s, originally in reference to BBS operators.<ref name="netlingo" /> A person with equivalent functions on a [[Internet hosting service|network host]] or [[Internet server|server]] is typically called a ''sysadmin'', short for [[system administrator]].<ref name="solaris" />

Because such duties were often shared with that of the sysadmin prior to the advent of the [[World Wide Web]], the term ''sysop'' is often used more generally to refer to an administrator or [[Forum moderator|moderator]], such as a [[Internet forum#Administrators|forum administrator]]. Hence, the term ''sysadmin'' is technically used to distinguish the professional position of a network operator.<ref name="cyberspacelaw">Cavazos, E.A. Cyberspace and the Law: Your Rights and Duties in the On-line World. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA</ref>

==See also==
*[[Internet slang]]
*[[Jargon]]
*[[Jargon File]]
*[[Network administrator]]
*[[Online service provider]]
*[[Virtual community]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{BBS}}

[[Category:Bulletin board systems]]
[[Category:Internet slang]]
[[Category:System administration]]

{{Internet-stub}}