user name
(operating system, security)(Or "logon") A unique name for
each user of computer services which can be accessed by
several persons.
Users need to identify themselves for accounting, security, logging, and resource management. Usually a person must also enter a password in order to access a service. Once the user has logged on the operating system will often use a (short) user identifier, e.g. an integer, to refer to them rather than their user name.
User names can usually be any short string of alphanumeric characters. Common choices are first name, initials, or some combination of first name, last name, initials and an arbitrary number. User names are often assigned by system administrators according to some local policy, or they may be chosen by the users themselves.
User names are often also used as mailbox names in electronic mail addresses.
Users need to identify themselves for accounting, security, logging, and resource management. Usually a person must also enter a password in order to access a service. Once the user has logged on the operating system will often use a (short) user identifier, e.g. an integer, to refer to them rather than their user name.
User names can usually be any short string of alphanumeric characters. Common choices are first name, initials, or some combination of first name, last name, initials and an arbitrary number. User names are often assigned by system administrators according to some local policy, or they may be chosen by the users themselves.
User names are often also used as mailbox names in electronic mail addresses.
This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)
username
The name people use to identify themselves when logging into a computer system or online service. Spaces are generally not allowed in the username, and in most situations, both a username (user ID) and password are required.In an Internet email address, the username is the part before the @ sign. For example, KARENB is the username in karenb@mycompany.com. AOL calls a username a "screen name."
A Username Can Be an Email Address
For some sites, a person's email address can be used instead of making up a name. Sometimes a username must be the email address (see below).
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| Username or Email Address? |
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| These Google mail server settings ask for "User Name" when, in fact, an email address must be entered and not some made-up identity. Many websites create confusion like this and may even ask for "username" in one dialog and "email address" in the other. |
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