Logon

In basic computer usage, the logon procedure is used to gain access to a particular application or operating system. More often than not it requires an administrator or authorized individual to enter a user ID and secret code. The user ID is often limited to an 8 character set with case sensitivity applying to all text. Many times, it must be a combination of letters and at least one number. The user ID can be publicly known and is visible at the logon screen. The code is intended to be private and is not displayed. When typing the code into the appropriate field, an asterisk (*) represents the text. Many retail, blog, and community-based web sites require a user to create an account in order to gain access. After registration is complete, users will enter their information into a logon screen to make use of the membership. In Unix environments and many web sites, logon is called login.