In Ory, the terms "registering a user" and "creating an identity" are closely related but have distinct meanings. Creating an identity refers to the process of defining a set of data that describes a human who signs up on a website or an application. This data is created based on schemas, which define what fields (data) the system stores for the identity. This allows you to easily differentiate between user types, for example, customers and employees. The term "identity" is used interchangeably with other common names for user accounts in the documentation [source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/manage-identities/overview). Registering a user, on the other hand, is a self-service flow implemented by Ory Identities. It is a process that users perform themselves, allowing them to sign up and create an account without administrative intervention. This process involves form validation and submission to Ory Identities, which then follows up with an HTTP 303 See Other redirect pointing to the Registration UI for Browser Clients or an

application/json

response for API Clients and Client-Side Browser applications [source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/self-service/flows/user-registration#registration-form-validation). In summary, creating an identity is about defining the data structure for a user, while registering a user is about the process a user goes through to create an account.

Creating an identity and registering a user are part of the same process, but they happen at different stages. 1. Creating an Identity: This is the first step when a new user interacts with your application. An identity is created when a new user signs up on your website or application. This identity is based on a schema that defines what data fields the system will store for the user. This could include information like their name, email address, and other relevant details. This process is handled by the backend of your application [source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/manage-identities/overview). 2. Registering a User: This is the next step after an identity has been created. The user registration process is a self-service flow where the user fills out a registration form with their details (which are defined by the identity schema). Once the form is submitted, Ory Identities handles the rest of the process, including form validation and redirection to the appropriate UI [source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/self-service/flows/user-registration#registration-form-validation). In summary, you create an identity when a new user signs up on your application, and you register a user when this user fills out the registration form with their details and submits it.

Yes, you can update the password using the update identity method. The Ory API allows you to update an identity's credentials, which includes the password. The password can be provided in plain text if no hash is available. Here is an example of how you can do this:

json {   "credentials": {     "password": {       "config": {         "password": "new-password"       }     }   } }

In this JSON payload, replace "new-password" with the new password. This password will then be hashed according to the configured password hashing algorithm and stored in the database [source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/kratos/manage-identities/import-user-accounts-identities#importing-credentials). Please note that this operation should be performed securely to prevent unauthorized access or changes to user data.

No, not any user can update the password of any other user. The Ory API requires authentication to perform operations like updating an identity. This means that only authenticated users, typically administrators or users with the appropriate permissions, can update user identities, including passwords. In the API reference, it's mentioned that to perform the updateIdentity operation, you must be authenticated by means of one of the following methods: oryAccessToken [source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/reference/api). This ensures that unauthorized users cannot change the password or any other details of other users. It's crucial to manage these access tokens securely to prevent unauthorized access or changes to user data.

While it's technically true that the update identity operation requires an identity ID, it doesn't mean that anyone can update any identity. The operation requires an access token (

oryAccessToken

) for authentication [source](https://www.ory.sh/docs/reference/api). This access token is typically granted to authenticated users or administrators who have the necessary permissions to perform such operations. The access token ensures that the operation is performed by an authorized entity. In a well-designed system, regular users would not have the necessary permissions to update the identities of other users. Only administrators or users with specific roles would have such permissions. Therefore, even if someone knows the identity ID of another user, they would not be able to update the identity without the necessary access token. This is a crucial aspect of maintaining security and preventing unauthorized access or changes to user data.