Userinfo

Userinfo refers to data about a user that is used by information systems to identify, authenticate, authorize, and personalize experiences. It typically includes identifiers such as a user ID or username, contact details like an email address, and profile attributes such as full name, avatar, language, and time zone. Depending on the system, it may also contain security-related attributes such as roles, groups, permissions, and audit data such as last login time.

The exact content and format of userinfo vary by organization and application. It is usually retrieved from identity stores or identity providers and may be exposed to applications through APIs or stored locally for session management. Data minimization and user consent govern which attributes are shared.

In identity and access management, userinfo is used to display user information, apply access controls, and personalize interfaces. In some authentication protocols, such as OpenID Connect, a userinfo endpoint provides a set of claims about the authenticated user to relying parties, typically after presenting a valid access token. The set of claims and their granularity is configured by the identity provider and may be limited by consent or scope.

Security and privacy considerations include restricting access to userinfo, encrypting data in transit and at rest, and auditing usage. Organizations should implement data governance, retention policies, and compliance with applicable privacy laws to protect user data.

Storage and integration practices vary, ranging from relational or NoSQL databases to dedicated identity catalogs. Synchronization between identity stores and application data sources is common to ensure consistent user information across systems.