What is the difference between dbo and db_owner?

This question pops up now and then.

dbo is a user and db_owner is a database role. They both are in the Security node in the Object Browser. The SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) makes it abundantly clear.

dbo

dbo.png

db_owner

db_owner.png

It will be instructive to review their properties as shown here.

dbo - Properties

dboProps.png

db_owner - Properties

db_ownerProps.png