What's the difference between the Admin and Root accounts in Mac OS X?

Does anyone know what the difference is between the Admin account and Root user option on Snow Leopard?
I've read on Network Security forums that I should have two accounts on my Macs (I'm the owner and only user), 1 for Admin controls / access and another for general use.  I was under the impression that I only needed one account, and even though it was specified as an "Admin" account I didn't really need to worry about it as I would still need to go into Directory Utility and "Enable Root User" to really allow a program to gain access / control of my Mac.
Can somebody please clear this up for me?
Thanks in advance
L Rembrandt

Root can do anything, without further authentication.  There is only one root account and it is disabled by default.
An admin user can do many things without further authentication, but can become root by authenticating with his own password.  There can be any number of admin users.
A standard (non-admin) user can only modify the contents of his own home folder, but can become and do admin and even root tasks by authenticating with an administrator's username and password, if he knows it.
Most security professionals recommend running with the fewest privileges as are necessary, elevating to the higher privilege only when needed, and returning to the lower privilege when the higher one is no longer needed.
Apple recommends running as a non-admin user all the time.  It is the best for security, and is convenient too, since nearly all admin and root tasks can be done from a non-admin account, simply by authenticating with an admin username/password when prompted.  I do admin and root tasks from my non-admin account all the time this way.  My admin account almost never gets used; it has been months since I actually logged in to it.
If you are not already using a non-admin account, it's easy to switch:  Just create a new account with admin privileges, and then remove admin privileges from your own account.

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