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up vote 11 down vote favorite
6

I would like as simple as possible a registration and login process. Should I use a username or an email address as the key identifier during the login? (Presumably the user db might also a user name AND an email address (and a unique ID number, first and last name, etc) - my question is just for the login and registration.

Thanks,

JDelage

PS: For those interested in this question, it was asked on the webmaster QA site, but the angle here is different (see http://webmasters.stackexchange.com/questions/3096/user-registration-forms-do-we-need-a-user-name).

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9 Answers

up vote 4 down vote accepted

I prefer username, don't make me type my full email address please! In the registration process you should ask for the email address to make sure your users can reset their password/username if needed. I usually have the same username for many different sites but different email addresses, depending on what type of site it is.

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The effort requested of the user is a key determinant, I agree. – JDelage Oct 30 '10 at 9:50
up vote 12 down vote

I prefer using an email address because I always forget my login name. Even better, use OpenID. That's much better than either methods since now, the user only has to remember one login.

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1  
As an addon I might consider Janrain and other more extensive single sign-on variants. Vanilla OpenId is still confusing to many people. – Henry the Hengineer Oct 28 '10 at 16:15
4  
The problem with OpenID is that not many non-techie people use it or even know what it is. Depending on the type of you site you have this might be a good/bad idea. – Ricardo Oct 28 '10 at 17:40
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OpenID is overratted. Email address is what we use in 99% of our applications. The only time a user name comes into play is when its used to keep the email private. For online chats, forums, etc. – Frank Oct 29 '10 at 4:34
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All good points about OpenID. It can be a bit cumbersome for the non-techie but it sure is convenient once you sort it out. – Jarie Bolander Oct 30 '10 at 14:05
up vote 8 down vote

Whatever you do, please make it very easy to know WHICH one to use. Please don't:

Username: _________________

when you really mean email. I can't stand that!

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That is my pet peeve too! I visit a health insurance web site where depending on how you log in it wants either: your full name, your email address, or your social security number. No clue as to which you need. – Gary E♦ Oct 28 '10 at 15:44
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it needs your SSN? Fishy – Henry the Hengineer Oct 28 '10 at 16:16
up vote 2 down vote

I would suggest you use username as key identifier as you need to allow for users to change their email address.

You may consider also asking for (and verifying) an email address during registration incase the user forgets their password. ie. on the forget password form allow the user to enter a username or email.

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up vote 1 down vote

When I used to work a 9-5 job, I used to change job every few years... that meant I changed email every few years. If you set the login to be an email address once-and-for-all-time... and I change my email address, then I either have to lose my login for your system, or change the unique identifier that you use for me to login.

It's a much better idea to have a username that will always stay the same - and let me use the email address just for it's original purpose - ie getting in contact with me via email.

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up vote 1 down vote

Why can't the user have the option:

  • Email doubles as the Username if no username entered.
  • Login using either the email or username as the username.

This way, users that setup the account under a company email address can change it and keep it associated with the username for this account.

Obviously more difficult to implement, but the goal seems to make the user's experience as easy as possible without painting them into a corner.

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up vote 0 down vote

If maintaining a User Demographics is not critical to your System, I would defer the Authentication to Other providers...

Open ID is good, But confusing to a lot of users... Better option is having multiple options. 90% of users have a Google/Yahoo/Facebook account. (I am making up the numbers here, But you get the idea).

Have options, which say, Login with your Google account, Facebook account, Yahoo Account or your OpenID. If you have neither, then and only then create an account on your System

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up vote 0 down vote

I usually prefer email address as the login id. However the downside to that you will also have to provide the user an option to change the email id, just like change password. You'll have to develop a whole new process to validate by sending a link to the old email to confirm the change.

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up vote 0 down vote

I've found the best sites are the ones that let you type either username or email in the username box. Often times I find I can't remember my username for a particular site, but I'm pretty sure what email address I signed up with.

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