To understand what they mean, you need to know the context. Here are some potential interpretations:
1. Author Mode in Content Management Systems (CMS)
* Author mode in a CMS often refers to a mode where a user has elevated permissions to create, edit, and publish content.
* User mode would then be a mode where users have limited permissions, typically only to view content.
2. Author Mode in Software Development
* In software development, "author mode" might refer to a development environment or a testing phase where the developers have full access and control over the system.
* "User mode" would then be the final released version of the software where users have limited access and are only allowed to interact with the software as intended.
3. Author Mode in Writing Tools
* Some writing tools might have a "draft mode" or "author mode" where users can focus on writing without distractions, like formatting or spell checking.
* "User mode" would then be the final mode where the document is ready for viewing or printing with all the formatting and styling applied.
4. User Roles in Applications
* Some applications might use "author" or "user" to describe different roles with different levels of access and permissions.
* An "author" might be a user with the ability to create and modify data, while a "user" might only have read-only access.
To get a clear understanding of what "author mode" and "user mode" mean in your specific context, please provide more information about where you encountered these terms. For example, tell me what software or system you are using, or what kind of document you are working with.