In computer networking, the Network Access Identifier (NAI) is a standard way of identifying users who request access to a network. The standard syntax is "user@realm". Sample NAIs include (from RFC 4282):

bob
joe@example.com
fred@foo-9.example.com
fred.smith@example.com
fred_smith@example.com
fred$@example.com
fred=?#$&*+-/^smith@example.com
eng.example.net!nancy@example.net
eng%nancy@example.net
@privatecorp.example.net
\(user\)@example.net
alice@xn--tmonesimerkki-bfbb.example.net
Network Access Identifiers were originally defined in RFC 2486, which has been superseded by RFC 4282. The latter RFC is the current standard for the NAI. NAIs are commonly found as user identifiers in the RADIUS

RADIUS

Remote Authentication Dial In User Service is a networking protocol that provides centralized Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting management for computers to connect and use a network service...

 and Diameter network access protocols and the EAP

Extensible Authentication Protocol

Extensible Authentication Protocol, or EAP, is an authentication framework frequently used in wireless networks and Point-to-Point connections. It is defined in RFC 3748, which made RFC 2284 obsolete, and was updated by RFC 5247....

 authentication protocol.

See also

• Diameter
• EAP
  Extensible Authentication Protocol
  Extensible Authentication Protocol, or EAP, is an authentication framework frequently used in wireless networks and Point-to-Point connections. It is defined in RFC 3748, which made RFC 2284 obsolete, and was updated by RFC 5247....
  
  
• RADIUS
  RADIUS
  Remote Authentication Dial In User Service is a networking protocol that provides centralized Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting management for computers to connect and use a network service...
  
  
• RFC
  Request for Comments
  In computer network engineering, a Request for Comments is a memorandum published by the Internet Engineering Task Force describing methods, behaviors, research, or innovations applicable to the working of the Internet and Internet-connected systems.Through the Internet Society, engineers and...
  
  

The Network Access Identifier (NAI) is the user identity submitted by the client during network access authentication.

It is used mainly for two purposes:-

• 1) The NAI is used when roaming, to identify the user.
• 2) To assist in the routing of the authentication request to the user's authentication server.