Registered user
Encyclopedia
A registered user is one who uses a program or a website
and provides his/her credentials, effectively proving his/her identity.
) and password
.
After that, one can access information and privileges unavailable to non-registered users, usually referred to simply as guests. The action of providing the proper credentials for a website is called logging in
, or signing in.
Registration is effectively a backhanded way to allow cookies, something most users try to avoid. In many cases, it even mimics 3rd party cookies. Once you've registered for a web site, the web site can effectively store all of your browsing history on its own server where you can't delete it, and share it with other commercial databases.
In fact, gathering personal information on users is the main reason some web sites require registration.
According to the web site for BugMeNot, a service for by-passing registration. The following are some of the reasons to avoid registration.
There is also a major disadvantage for both users and the web site owners.
Most users will not use your web site if they have to register, because registration takes time. Most users visit most web sites only briefly. When a user is searching through the results of a web search, it takes many times over as much time to register for each web site. In most cases, the user will just move on to another web site.
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
and provides his/her credentials, effectively proving his/her identity.
Technical differences
Generally speaking, any person can become a registered user by providing some credentials, usually in the form of a username (or emailEmail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
) and password
Password
A password is a secret word or string of characters that is used for authentication, to prove identity or gain access to a resource . The password should be kept secret from those not allowed access....
.
After that, one can access information and privileges unavailable to non-registered users, usually referred to simply as guests. The action of providing the proper credentials for a website is called logging in
Logging (computer security)
In computer security, a login or logon is the process by which individual access to a computer system is controlled by identifying and authentifying the user referring to credentials presented by the user.A user can log in to a system to obtain access and can then log out or log off In computer...
, or signing in.
Advantages of using user registration
Since the site knows about the identity of persona using the page, it can:- Display personalized data (the simplest way is saying "Hello, John!")
- Switch to personalized settings (e.g., "Disable pictures" or change site language)
- Let the user perform actions from his identity (like post in a forumInternet forumAn Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
using his nicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
) - Access private data (like emailEmailElectronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
or pmPersonal messageA personal message or private message, often shortened to PM, is like an e-mail sent from one user to another user on an Internet forum, bulletin board system, social networking site , or chat room ....
) - Control automated edits, also known as spamming
- Allows the Web Developers to email registered users with updates on their site.
Criticism
Registration has many disadvantages for web users.Registration is effectively a backhanded way to allow cookies, something most users try to avoid. In many cases, it even mimics 3rd party cookies. Once you've registered for a web site, the web site can effectively store all of your browsing history on its own server where you can't delete it, and share it with other commercial databases.
In fact, gathering personal information on users is the main reason some web sites require registration.
According to the web site for BugMeNot, a service for by-passing registration. The following are some of the reasons to avoid registration.
- It's a breach of privacy.
- Sites don't have a great track record with the whole spam thing.
- It's contrary to the fundamental spirit of the net. Just ask Google.
- It's pointless due to the significant percentage of users who enter fake demographic details anyway.
- It's inconvenient for the user to register/login, for viewing content.
There is also a major disadvantage for both users and the web site owners.
Most users will not use your web site if they have to register, because registration takes time. Most users visit most web sites only briefly. When a user is searching through the results of a web search, it takes many times over as much time to register for each web site. In most cases, the user will just move on to another web site.