realuser

Realuser is a term used in information technology to refer to an authenticated human participant in a computer system or online service. It is contrasted with automated agents such as bots, scripts, or crawlers. In practice, realuser denotes a verified identity that has passed authentication and is subject to access controls and user-level permissions. The term is commonly used in security, analytics, and user-management contexts to describe genuine human activity.

Authentication and verification: Real users are typically established through credential-based login, such as username and password, supplemented by multi-factor authentication or biometrics. Ongoing measures—like session management, device recognition, and anomaly detection—help preserve the integrity of realuser sessions and distinguish them from unauthorized access. Data-collection practices may treat realuser activity with higher trust, while respecting privacy and consent.

Uses and challenges: For websites and apps, correctly identifying real users supports personalization, access control, fraud prevention, and compliant analytics. Challenges include bot traffic, account sharing, credential compromise, and privacy concerns. Techniques include CAPTCHA, rate limiting, device fingerprinting, behavior analysis, and integration with identity providers that support standards such as OAuth and OpenID Connect.

Terminology and scope: Realuser is not a standardized term with a rigid definition; its meaning varies by organization and context. It may appear as a label in data schemas, logs, or dashboards. When used, it generally serves to differentiate authenticated human users from non-human entities and to guide security and analytics workflows.