What type of user accounts are used to start and run applications that require access to a limited set of files and directories?

Service accounts are specialized user accounts designed specifically for running applications or services without requiring access to a full user profile or personal directories. They are typically created to run background services, applications, or scheduled tasks that need to operate with specific permissions and limited access to resources.

Service accounts provide a controlled environment for applications by restricting their access to only necessary files and directories. This minimizes security risks, as these accounts usually don’t have interactive login capabilities and are configured with the least privilege principle in mind. This means they can operate effectively without exposing the system to unnecessary vulnerabilities.

In contrast, root user accounts have full administrative privileges, which is not ideal for running applications that should operate under limited access for security reasons. Standard user accounts typically lack the required capabilities to run system services, and administrator accounts come with more permissions than are necessary for running most applications. Thus, service accounts are the correct choice for this purpose.