signup

Signup, also called sign-up or account creation, is the process by which a user registers to use a service by providing information to create a user account. The goal is to establish a unique identity within the system and grant access to features, personalization, and data storage. Sign-up is commonly followed by verification to confirm the user’s identity and contact details.

A typical signup form collects identifiers such as a username or email address, a password, and optional profile details (name, avatar, preferences). Services often require agreement to terms of service and privacy policy. To reduce abuse, forms may include anti-bot checks, password strength meters, and rate limits. Some platforms offer social or OAuth sign-up, using an existing account with a third party to populate fields.

Verification is common: the service may send an email with a confirmation link or a one-time code sent by SMS. After successful verification, users can access an account dashboard. Many services implement additional security through two-factor authentication options, recovery codes, and device-based trust.

Design and accessibility considerations include minimizing required fields, clear labeling, inline validation, accessible error messages, and compatibility with assistive technologies. Data minimization and secure transport (HTTPS) are standard best practices, as is informing users about data use and retention.

Variations include guest checkout or anonymous accounts, and enterprise or admin-created accounts. Sign-up processes must comply with legal requirements such as data protection regulations, age restrictions, and marketing consent where applicable.