Username
A label used to identify an account or profile within a service, sometimes public and sometimes only part of the sign-in process.
The useful mental model.
Start with the part that changes what you actually do or expect when you meet this concept in everyday digital life.
Before you change it
Check what else depends on this account or identity — recovery methods, subscriptions, purchases, contacts, files and public links can all be connected.
The common confusion
Profile visibility, sign-out, deactivation, uninstalling an app and deleting an account are different actions. Treat them as separate layers.
What connects to this?
Digital life is a system. Follow the neighboring identity, data, design, security or business layer instead of stopping at one definition.
Online Identity
The collection of names, profiles, accounts, credentials and social signals through which a person is represented online.
Understand it →identity conceptDigital Footprint
The traces connected to a person’s activity across accounts, posts, devices, searches, transactions and other online interactions.
Understand it →identity elementProfile Picture
A visual identity marker attached to a profile, account or presence across a digital service.
Understand it →Check the underlying references.
G7 prioritizes primary technical documentation, public-interest institutions and strong research. Product-specific behavior can change, so current service documentation remains important.