User Identification

What Does User Identification Mean?

User identification (user ID) is a logical entity used to identify a user on software, a system, a website, or within any generic IT environment. It is used within any IT-enabled system to identify and distinguish between the users who access or use it.

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A user ID may also be termed a username or user identifier.

Techopedia Explains User Identification

User ID is one of the most common authentication mechanisms used within computing systems, networks, applications (like password managers), and over the Internet. Regardless of the type of user and the user’s rights, each user has a unique identifier that distinguishes it from other users. Typically in an authentication process, user ID is used in conjunction with a password. The end-user must provide both of the credentials correctly to gain access to the system or application. Moreover, system administrators use user IDs to assign rights, track user activity, and manage overall operations on a particular system, network, or application.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…