A password is a confidential, often arbitrary, and unspaced sequence of characters entered by a computer user to verify his or her identity when attempting to log onto restrictive (or "locked") computer software, such as systems, programs, files, and Web browsers. It is similar to the secret code that a banking customer uses to gain access to an automatic teller machine (ATM).

Passwords are instituted as a security device in order to restrict access to only authorized users of private and/or sensitive software. Within these secured pieces of computer software, the prospective user first encounters some type of a password-protection program that compares a user ID (some unique identification) and a password with a stored list of authorized codes for that particular user. (A password protection program employs the use of passwords as a means of allowing only authorized users access to computer software.) If the user...