Role inheritance
This module allows a Drupal site to set up a hierarchy of user roles, where some roles can automatically inherit the permissions of other roles. This simplifies permission management by reducing duplication, especially in complex organizations. It can also integrate with other access control modules.
This module allows role inheritance for complex organizations. This reduces the number of duplicated or assigned privileges and access.
Example
For a new site, there are Writers, Editors and Global Editors. The Writers and editors are assigned privileges to write/post/edit content on separate sections (Sports, Entertainment, Weather, etc...) and the Global Editor has access across all sections.
Role inheritance could be setup such that Global Editors inherit privileges from Editors and Editors inherit privileges from Writers Thus the create content privileges only needs to be assigned to Writers and the other two roles will inherit all their access.
When incorporated with Workbench Access or Taxonomy Access Control, Roles can inherit those access privileges as well, to gain access over sections and content.
Versions
Drupal 8
The Drupal 8 version is a complete rewrite of the module. And is being actively maintained. Please reported and bugs or feature request in the issue queue.
Drupal 6
The Drupal 6 release of this module is not longer being developed or supported. Use at your own risk.