LoginName

loginName is the identifier a user provides to authenticate to a computer system, service, or application. It is typically unique within a given domain, system, or application and is often referred to as a username, user ID, or account name. The loginName is usually used together with a password or other credential to establish an authenticated session, and it is distinct from the user’s display name or full name.

In different contexts, the loginName can have varying forms. In Windows environments, login names may appear as the user’s logon name, such as a domain-qualified user principal name or a sAMAccountName. In Unix-like systems, the loginName is the user ID used by the shell. In databases and web services, the loginName often maps to a login credential such as a username or an email address. Some systems allow multiple aliases or email addresses to serve as loginNames.

Key characteristics include the need for uniqueness within the relevant scope, potential case sensitivity, and storage in an identity or authentication database. The loginName is typically visible to users during login and may be used as a locator for associated permissions, groups, and profile data. It is separate from the display name and from the password, and it is subject to security and lifecycle management practices such as provisioning, deprovisioning, and policy enforcement.

Security considerations emphasize that a loginName, while not a secret, can be public information; strong authentication, MFA, and diligent account management help mitigate risks. See also: usernames, authentication, identity management.