EndUser

An end user, in the context of products and services, is the person who ultimately uses the product or service. The term distinguishes the individual who interacts with the finished product from others involved in its procurement, manufacturing, distribution, or maintenance, such as developers, vendors, or IT staff. End users may be consumers, employees, or other individuals who operate a system or device as part of daily activities.

In software and hardware, the end user is the primary focus of user experience design, documentation, and support. End-user considerations include ease of use, accessibility for people with disabilities, localization, and clear error handling. In licensing, the concept appears in end-user license agreements (EULAs), which define permissible uses, restrictions, and responsibilities of the person who will operate the software.

End-user computing (EUC) describes environments where end users directly run applications on their own devices or on centralized resources, often with varying levels of control and security managed by an organization. End users also participate in testing and feedback processes to improve usability and functionality, and they may receive training or instructions to perform tasks effectively and securely.

Security and privacy concerns relate to end users as well, emphasizing authentication, access controls, data minimization, and adherence to policies. As products increasingly collect data from users, organizations must consider consent, transparency, and data protection in relation to the end user experience.

Examples of end users include a smartphone owner using a mobile app, an employee operating a corporate software system, or a customer interacting with a web service.