--- title: "Manage and Authenticate Users with Netlify Identity" description: "By the power of GoTrue you can use Netlify Identity to help gate content, add site administration, login with external OAuth providers, and more!" source: "https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/30/manage-and-authenticate-users-with-netlify-identity/" last_updated: "2026-08-30T01:18:36.000Z" --- “Authenticating users is a no-brainer”, said no one ever. Managing user data, creating a login process, setting roles, gating content, these things are hard. One of my favorite strategies in web app development is getting a leg up by having someone else do the hard part. After all, you can’t spell ‘delegation’ without ‘leg’. [Netlify Identity](https://docs.netlify.com/visitor-access/identity/) lets us delegate a ton of authentication functionality: - the setup and infrastructure of storing user information, as well - login using external OAuth providers like GitHub, Google, GitLab, and Bitbucket - trigger serverless functions on validation, signup, or login events - generate custom emails - access and edit user information and roles - and more! ![screenshot of identity dashboard page](/v3/img/blog/identity.png) Leveraging the open-source [GoTrue API](https://github.com/netlify/gotrue), Netlify Identity can be added to your site with the [Netlify Identity widget](https://github.com/netlify/netlify-identity-widget) by adding this ` ``` then including the widget in the site template, like so: ```
Login with Netlify Identity
``` Put it all together and you get this lovely pop-up modal window where users can login or sign up! ![netlify identity login modal window](/v3/img/blog/screen-shot-2021-12-20-at-11.37.37-pm.png) Check out the [Netlify Identity docs](https://docs.netlify.com/visitor-access/identity/) to learn more about everything you can do. I can’t wait to see (or not see if I’m not logged in) all the authentication functionality you create! Happy coding 👩🏻‍💻! ### Share - [X (fka Twitter)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Manage and Authenticate Users with Netlify Identity&url=https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/30/manage-and-authenticate-users-with-netlify-identity/) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.netlify.com%2Fblog%2F2021%2F12%2F30%2Fmanage-and-authenticate-users-with-netlify-identity%2F) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/30/manage-and-authenticate-users-with-netlify-identity/) - [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Manage and Authenticate Users with Netlify Identity+https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/30/manage-and-authenticate-users-with-netlify-identity/) * * * ### Tags - [Netlify Identity](/blog/tags/netlify-identity/) ## Keep reading ![](/_astro/db3c7ccc097c1c2396170c400408fdb298a74e0e-1800x1013_eSbAd.webp) Tools & Services July 28, 2026 [ ### MCP goes stateless and extensible ](/blog/mcp-goes-stateless-and-extensible) - ![Profile picture of Sean Roberts](/_astro/bbf2243f8171dbddd80ab2103622106cef84d125-512x512_Z1d2LKE.webp) Sean Roberts ![](/_astro/b581d6706ebcbd74591b67109365564968dbe81b-1800x1013_ZNneAB.webp) Tools & Services July 27, 2026 [ ### The 13-year story of Netlify Drop ](/blog/thirteen-years-of-netlify-drop) - ![Profile picture of Wade Wegner](/_astro/0302ff22eb844e648b11d7cff3cedbbc3c9de876-2667x4000_Z5j6wM.webp) Wade Wegner ## Recent posts News & Announcements August 25, 2026 [ ### Compete in OpenAI’s WebMCP Challenge with Netlify ](/blog/compete-openai-webmcp-challenge) - ![Profile picture of Karthik Puvvada](/_astro/e5524d3c315ad5114e1d5300d8991bfe902916fe-192x192_Z1w18MB.webp) Karthik Puvvada News & Announcements August 19, 2026 [ ### New clarifying questions in Agent Runners ](/blog/new-clarifying-questions-in-agent-runners) - ![Profile picture of Taylor Barnett-Torabi](/_astro/cf4624da8c1286738397b6fecb53bad504df140b-400x400_ZsvK0s.webp) Taylor Barnett-Torabi Opinions & Insights August 14, 2026 [ ### The full power of Git, without the friction: A conversation with Netlify CTO Dana Lawson ](/blog/netlify-source-with-netlify-cto-dana-lawson) - ![Profile picture of Dana Lawson](/_astro/856bf146d0c05c9dc25d45b59f7eac955fbbd644-512x512_1n84rs.webp) Dana Lawson ![](/_astro/3f255b372fa958df35802666ee33b4609b2d71bd-1200x1586_1VtE2D.webp) ### How do the best dev and marketing teams work together? [Access the report](https://www.netlify.com/reports/2024-leadership-trend-report/access/)