Can you explain what is meant by 'identification' in the context of information security?

In information security, the term "identification" refers to the process of determining or establishing the identity of a user or system. It is the first step in access control, where the system recognizes who is trying to gain access.

Identification usually occurs by providing a unique identifier, such as a login, username, or ID.

After identification comes authentication — verifying whether the user is indeed who they claim to be (for example, password verification).

Example:

• User enters login (identification).
• System requests password (authentication).

In C#, this might look like checking the username in a database before verifying the password.