---
title: "Groups inheritance"
manual: "TYPO3 Explained"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:groups-inheritance@main"
source: "Administration/PermissionsManagement/GroupsInheritance/Index.rst"
rendered: "2026-09-17T16:37:44+00:00"
---

# Groups inheritance {#groups-inheritance-1}

Even though TYPO3 does not limit the depth of backend user group inheritance,
it's advisable to avoid complex setups. Typically, 1 or 2 levels of inheritance
should suffice. Such flat structures offer significant advantages over more complex,
deeper inheritances, including easier maintenance, updates, and verification
of the sources of specific permissions.

```plantuml
skinparam defaultTextAlignment center
skinparam nodesep 10
skinparam ranksep 20

rectangle "User" AS User #Motivation {
}

rectangle "First level" AS First_Level #line.dotted {
    rectangle "R_role_group" AS R_role_group #Implementation {
    }
}

User <-down- First_Level

rectangle "Second level" AS Second_Level #line.dotted {
    rectangle "System Groups" AS System_Groups #line.dotted {
        rectangle "PG_website_a" as PG_website_a #Application
        rectangle "DBM_website_a" as DBM_website_a #Application
        rectangle "FM_website_a" as FM_website_a #Application
        rectangle "CM_website_a" as CM_website_a #Application
        rectangle "FO_all" as FO_all #Application
        rectangle "L_all" as L_all #Application
        PG_website_a -[hidden]-> DBM_website_a
        DBM_website_a -[hidden]-> FM_website_a
        FM_website_a -[hidden]-> CM_website_a
        CM_website_a -[hidden]-> FO_all
        FO_all -[hidden]-> L_all
    }

    rectangle "ACL Groups" AS ACL_Groups #line.dotted {
      rectangle "ACL_content_elements" as ACL_content_elements #Technology
      rectangle "ACL_news" as ACL_news #Technology
      rectangle "ACL_gallery" as ACL_gallery #Technology
      rectangle "ACL_survey" as ACL_survey #Technology
      ACL_content_elements -[hidden]-> ACL_news
      ACL_news -[hidden]-> ACL_gallery
      ACL_gallery -[hidden]-> ACL_survey
    }

    System_Groups -[hidden]right-> ACL_Groups
}

First_Level <-down- Second_Level
```

Backend groups hierarchy with 2 levels of inheritance

> [!NOTE]
> Avoid complex inheritance within backend user groups. One or two levels of inheritance should suffice and make permissions easier to maintain.