In computer security, login (logging or signing in, also log on) is the process by which individual access to a computer system is controlled by identification of the user using credentials provided by the user. A user can log in to a system to obtain access, and then log out when the access is no longer needed. Note that the term log in (a verb) is two words, while login (a noun or adjective referring to the procedure, credentials, or form used) is one wordFact: date=December 2008; the same applies to log out and logout (also log off). To log out is to close off one's access to a computer system after previously having logged in.

Logging out may be done explicitly by the user performing some action, such as entering the appropriate command, or clicking a website link labeled as such. It can also be done implicitly, such as by powering the machine off, closing a web browser window, leaving a website, or not refreshing a webpage within a defined period.

In the case of web sites that use cookies to track sessions, when the user logs out, session-only cookies from that site will usually be deleted from the user's computer. In addition, the server invalidates any associations with the session, making any session-handle in the user's cookie store useless. This feature comes in handy if the user is using a public computer. As a security precaution, one should not rely on implicit means of logging out of a system, especially not on a public computer, instead one should explicitly log out and wait for the confirmation that this request has taken place.

Logging out of a computer when leaving it is a common security practice, preventing unauthorized users from tampering with it. There are also people who choose to have a password-protected screensaver to activate after some time of inactivity, requiring the user to renter their login credentials to unlock the screensaver to gain access to the system.

See also

• access code
• Computer security
• Account
• Password
• Password policy
• Login spoofing
• Login session
• OpenID
• /var/log/wtmp