---
layout: docs
page_title: roles - Command
description: >-
  The "roles" command performs operations on Boundary role resources. Roles contain collections of permissions which are granted to principals assigned to the role.
---

# roles

Command: `boundary roles`

The `roles` command lets you perform operations on Boundary role resources.

## Example

The following command creates a role with the name `prodops` and the description `For ProdOps usage`:

```shell-session
$ boundary roles create -name prodops -description "For ProdOps usage"
```

## Usage

<CodeBlockConfig hideClipboard>

```shell-session
Usage: boundary roles <subcommand> [options] [args]
  # ...
Subcommands:
    add-grant-scopes     Add grant scopes to a role
    add-grants           Add grants to a role
    add-principals       Add principals (users, groups) to a role
    create               Create a role
    delete               Delete a role
    list                 List a role
    read                 Read a role
    remove-grant-scopes  Remove grant scopes from a role
    remove-grants        Remove grants from a role
    remove-principals    Remove principals (users, groups) from a role
    set-grant-scopes     Set the full contents of grant scopes on a role
    set-grants           Set the full contents of the grants on a role
    set-principals       Set the full contents of the principals (users, groups) on a role
    update               Update a role
```

</CodeBlockConfig>

For more information, examples, and usage, click on the name
of the subcommand in the sidebar or one of the links below:

- [add-grant-scopes](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/add-grant-scopes)
- [add-grants](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/add-grants)
- [add-principals](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/add-principals)
- [create](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/create)
- [delete](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/delete)
- [list](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/list)
- [read](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/read)
- [remove-grant-scopes](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/remove-grant-scopes)
- [remove-grants](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/remove-grants)
- [remove-principals](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/remove-principals)
- [set-grant-scopes](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/set-grant-scopes)
- [set-grants](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/set-grants)
- [set-principals](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/set-principals)
- [update](/boundary/docs/commands/roles/update)