Eli5: What do rooting/jailbreak a phone do exactly and how?

Question

I know that it allows us to get root access somehow. No idea other than that.
It would also be good if someone could explain what is the difference between root uesr and normal user privelege wise.

Thanks in advance.

In: Technology

Answer 1

So the operating system running your phone (either IOS or Android) provides a framework for now your phone should run. However that framework is also a cage. Normally, the phone allows you to do only certain things and the average person is happy with that, but some people want it to do more. Rooting your phone essentially installs a new operating system that allows you to access all the features that you couldn’t access before.

For instance, your phone normally can’t open and play .exe files like your computer can, but if you root your phone you turn it to a low power computer and it can run that .exe file.