userinitiated

In computing, userinitiated (often written as user-initiated) refers to actions or requests that originate from a user rather than a system process. These actions are typically initiated through an explicit user gesture such as clicking, tapping, typing, or selecting an option, and they signal user intent.

System-initiated actions occur without direct user input, such as scheduled tasks, automated backups, or background sync. The distinction is important for user expectations, permissions, and telemetry.

Examples include saving a document, submitting a form, starting a download, applying a setting, manual refresh, or initiating a service call.

In design and behavior, userinitiated actions should provide clear feedback, be cancelable if possible, and respect user expectations for latency. They may trigger immediate operations, require authentication, or prompt for confirmation.

In mobile and other environments, prioritization and throttling can depend on whether an action is userinitiated.

Security and privacy: userinitiated requests are often treated as explicit user intent for permission checks. They may be logged for auditing and consent.

Data and analytics: Telemetry often distinguishes userinitiated events from automated ones to measure user engagement or feature usage.

See also: event-driven programming, user interface, consent, accessibility.