> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.m3ter.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Authentication

> Discover m3ter's authentication options: Username/Password for Console access, m3ter SSO, and Bearer Token for API calls.

The m3ter platform supports several authentication methods:

* Username/Password authentication. This method is used for log in to the m3ter Console.

<Warning>
  **Important Note: Login Email is Case Sensitive!**

  * Please note that your login email address is case-sensitive. This means that `example.user@acme.com` and `Example.User@acme.com` are treated as two different logins, even though they appear similar.
  * *Always double-check* the capitalization of your email address when logging in.
</Warning>

* Service authentication using a Bearer Token for API calls. This method is used for programmatic access via API calls.
* m3ter Single Sign-On. This method allows users with federated identities in different Identity Providers (IdPs) to sign into m3ter.

These authentication methods allow different types of user to access to the m3ter platform:

* **Users** represent the *people* you want to grant access to your Organization in m3ter. Authentication by **Users** can be performed:
  * With Username/Password login credentials to authenticate and gain access to the Console.
* **Service Users** represent the *automated processes* you want to grant access to your Organization. **Service Users** will use service authentication to gain access to the m3ter platform.

<Tip>
  **Tip: More on User Types?** For more details on the types of user supported in m3ter, see [Managing your Users](/guides/organization-and-access-management/managing-users).
</Tip>

To support these two authentication methods for different types of user, we maintain two authorization flows:

* An *Authorization Code* flow, which controls access for Users.
* A *Client Credentials* flow, which controls API access for Service Users.

<Tip>
  **Tip: More Details on Auth Flows?** For more details see the [API Reference Docs Authentication](/api/authentication) page.
</Tip>

This section explains how to authenticate with the m3ter platform:

* [User/Password Authentication](/guides/authenticating-with-the-platform/user-password-authentication)
* [m3ter Single Sign-On](/guides/authenticating-with-the-platform/m3ter-single-sign-on)
* [Service Authentication](/guides/authenticating-with-the-platform/service-authentication)