What does rooting android mean?

[Trail Mixorz]

Is it kinda like jailbreaking an iOS device but for android phones?

[Sarcasm]

Pretty much.

[Giancarlo124]

Yea pretty much. I believe it is also called that because it gives you file access to the root folder.

[_ASSASSIN_]

Dumbing it down, it similar to jailbreaking but it's different

[SteepGnomeKing]

ROM- Read Only Memory

Rooting- allowing low level access to the ROM so you can write to it also

 

When you download a "ROM" it is technically not a ROM since it isn't read only memory software and you can write to it, it is firmware. But that would just add greater confusion to the pot.

When you have a Stock Rom unrooted you can not change anything about that software. It is as it nothing can be done except for what they allow you to change (background, ringones, etc,.

When you Root it that allows you to write to the memory and add your own "ROM (firmware)" and change the device to how you want it to be. 

 

Rooting allows you to change this that aren't usually allowed because they need to change data (write) on your phone. Rooting allows you to backup every app you have on your phone, allows VPN's (through the play store (openvpn, private internet access) since it changes how your phone access the internet), and more options.

[ttam]

It's Super User access. Basically giving full administration rights to everything on the phone.

[laxer]

Both of the above posts sum it up very well.

 

On older windows phones(not sure about new ones) HSPL is synonymous with rooting/jailbreaking/unlocking.