Power user

A power user is a user of computers, software and other electronic devices who uses advanced features of computer hardware,^[1][2][3] operating systems,^[4] programs, or websites^[5] which are not used by the average user. A power user might not have extensive technical knowledge of the systems they use^[6] but is rather characterized by competence or desire to make the most intensive use of computer programs or systems.

The term came into use in the 1980s, as advocates for computing developed special skills for working with or customizing existing hardware and software. Power users knew the best ways to perform common tasks and find advanced information before the arrival of the commercial Internet. On PC platforms, power users read magazines like Byte or PC Magazine, and knew enough about operating systems to create and edit batch files, write short programs in BASIC, and adjust system settings. They tended to customize or “supercharge” existing systems, rather than create new software.^[7]

In enterprise software systems, "Power User" may be a formal role given to an individual who is not a programmer but a specialist in business software. Often these people retain their normal user job role but also function in testing, training, and first-tier support of the enterprise software.^[6][8]

Some software applications are regarded as particularly suited for power users and may be designed as such. Examples include VLC media player, a multimedia framework, a player, and a server, which includes complex features not found in other media player suites.^[9][10]