User (computing)

A user in computing context is one who uses a computer system. Users may need to identify themselves for the purposes of accounting, security, logging and resource management. In order to identify oneself, a user has an account (a user account) and a user name, and in most cases also a password (see below). Users employ the user interface to access systems, and the process of identification is often referred to as log in.

Related Topics:
Computing - Password - User interface - Log in

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Users are also widely characterized as the class of people that uses a system without complete technical expertise required to fully understand the system. In most hacker-related contexts, they are also called real users.

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A computer user is similar to the user in telecommunications, but with slight semantic differences. The difference is comparable to the difference between end-users and consumers in economics.

Related Topics:
User in telecommunications - End-user

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For instance, one can be a user of (and have an account on) a computer system, a computer network or have an e-mail account.

Related Topics:
Computer system - Computer network - E-mail account

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