<
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.
(1997-03-16)