Salasanakenttä

Salasanakenttä is a Finnish term that translates to "password field" in English. It refers to a user interface element, typically found in web forms, applications, or operating system login screens, where a user can input their secret password. The primary characteristic of a salasanakenttä is that the characters typed into it are masked, usually by displaying asterisks or dots instead of the actual characters. This masking is a security measure designed to prevent unauthorized individuals from observing the password as it is entered, especially in public or shared environments.

When a user interacts with a salasanakenttä, their keystrokes are captured and immediately replaced by a visual placeholder. This ensures that even if someone is looking over the user's shoulder, they cannot discern the password. Upon submission of the form or login attempt, the masked characters are processed as the actual password for authentication. Some implementations may offer an option to temporarily reveal the password by clicking an icon, often shaped like an eye, which can be helpful for users who want to verify they have typed their password correctly. The salasanakenttä is a fundamental component of user authentication and is present in almost all systems requiring secure access.