What is user identification and identity resolution?

User identification is the process of determining and recognizing a specific user within a system or application. This is usually done using unique identifiers such as login, email, session ID, or cookie. The goal is to understand who exactly is interacting with the product.

Identity resolution is a more complex process that consolidates disparate data about a user from different sources and devices to create a unified, comprehensive profile. For example, if a user logs in from a phone and a computer, identity resolution links these actions to the same person, even if the identifiers are different.

Example: in marketing, identity resolution helps to combine data about purchases, website visits, and app activity to more accurately target advertising and personalize the experience.