The Basics: Accounts and Passwords

“An account is like a folder. A simple, big yellow folder.”

When you start using a service that needs to keep track of you, it creates a folder just for you. Such as the bank, or a gym membership. These services will create a profile of you, in a large yellow folder.

It puts a label on that folder so it knows it belongs to you.

Inside that folder, it keeps everything related to you:

• your information

• your preferences

• anything you’ve done or saved
  
  

So when you come back later, nothing is lost — they can open your folder and continue where you left off.

That folder will also have a lock on it - it can only be opened with a specific key.

That key is your password.

Only someone with the right key can open the folder and see what’s inside.

To Clarify: 

That folder we’ve been talking about — that’s what people mean when they say “account.”

The info written on the label of the folder is how they recognize which one is yours.
That’s what’s often called a username or account name. It might be your name, your email address, etc. Some piece of identifying information.

And the key you use to open the folder —
that’s your password. You need to have that key to open your folders. 

Homework

Keep a written list of your accounts and passwords.

Choose one safe, specific place to store this list — somewhere you won’t lose it, but others won’t easily access it.

Writing things down on paper is not just “okay” when you’re learning — is highly recommended - especially for beginners. 

Make a habit of updating this list as things change.
If you don’t keep it current, it quickly stops being useful.

This is part of the process.
The more consistently you do it, the easier everything else becomes.