Rooting is a process that allows you to attain root access to the Android operating system code (the equivalent term for Apple devices is jailbreaking). It gives you privileges to modify the software code on the device or install other software that the manufacturer would not normally allow you to. And for good mobile security reasons, they do not want users to make modifications to mobile devices that could result in accidents beyond repair. But, rooting methods are available on the web, and Android users resort to them because of the powerful perks they provide, such as full customization for every theme/graphic, extended battery life and added performance, and updates to the latest version of Android. 

When you root your Android device, you are simply adding a standard Linux function that was removed. A small file called su is placed in the system and given permissions so that another user can run it. It stands for ‘switch user’, and if you run the file without any other parameters it switches your credentials and permissions from a normal user to that of the super user. You are then in complete control and can add anything, remove anything, and access functions on your phone or tablet that you could not reach before.