Ask HN: Login or logon?

#1

Post by marchustvedt » Thu, Sep 14, 2017, 5:33 PM UTC

Where are we this today? From a UI perspective, is login/logout now universally preferred over log on/log off? Is it regional? Which came first?

This terminology question has always lingered for me. Thanks!

Re: Ask HN: Login or logon?

#2

Post by sova » Thu, Sep 14, 2017, 5:33 PM UTC

"Sign in"

Re: Ask HN: Login or logon?

#3

Post by wheresvic1 » Thu, Sep 14, 2017, 5:41 PM UTC

Login/logout

Re: Ask HN: Login or logon?

#4

Post by Zekio » Thu, Sep 14, 2017, 5:41 PM UTC

login and logout sounds better and they are shorter which makes for shorter buttons if you display the full text

Re: Ask HN: Login or logon?

#5

Post by ocdtrekkie » Thu, Sep 14, 2017, 5:43 PM UTC

I do not know if this is universal, by any stretch:

On the web, you'll almost always see log "in"/"out". You sign into a website or service.

However, I would think you log "on"/"off" a machine like a PC. You sign onto a computer or local network. But I've never seen this term on like a web service.

Re: Ask HN: Login or logon?

#6

Post by iamNumber4 » Thu, Sep 14, 2017, 5:47 PM UTC

Yes, both.

Re: Ask HN: Login or logon?

#7

Post by warrenm » Thu, Sep 14, 2017, 5:49 PM UTC

Doesn't matter - they're interchangeable

Just keep it consistent in your app/service/tool/etc

Re: Ask HN: Login or logon?

#8

Post by greglindahl » Fri, Sep 15, 2017, 1:38 AM UTC

You "log on" to a mainframe. You login to a minicomputer.