---
layout: docs
page_title: Domain Model - Authentication Methods
sidebar_title: Authentication Methods
description: |-
  The anatomy of a Boundary authentication method
---

# Authentication Methods

An authentication method is a resource
that provides a mechanism
for [users][] to authenticate to Boundary.
An authentication method contains [accounts][]
which link an individual user to a set of credentials.
Authentication methods can be defined at either a [Global][] or [Organization][] [scope][].

## Attributes

All authentication methods have the following configurable attributes:

- `name` - (optional)
  If set, the `name` must be unique within the authentication method's scope.

- `description` - (optional)

### Password Authentication Method Attributes

The password authentication method has the following additional attributes:

- `min_login_name_length` - (required) The default is 3.

- `min_password_length` - (required) The default is 8.

## Referenced By

- [Account][]
- [Global][]
- [Organization][]

[account]: /docs/concepts/domain-model/accounts
[accounts]: /docs/concepts/domain-model/accounts
[global]: /docs/concepts/domain-model/scopes#global
[organization]: /docs/concepts/domain-model/scopes#organizations
[scope]: /docs/concepts/domain-model/scopes
[users]: /docs/concepts/domain-model/users