Overview
Canny Identify is a component of the Canny SDK snippet and is one of the options for implementing Canny. With Canny Identify enabled, users are identified automatically. Users are authenticated through their existing accounts when giving feedback.
Canny Identify eliminates the need for separate login credentials and creates a seamless experience.
Benefits
Increased user engagement through frictionless feedback submission.
Improved data accuracy by automatically linking feedback to verified user accounts.
Time savings for both users and administrators by eliminating manual login processes.
How does Canny Identify work?
When a user clicks on your link, the embedded Canny SDK will send their identifying information to Canny from your system. Think of it like an introduction. When the user clicks, you automatically introduce them to Canny, eliminating the need for Canny to ask for their identification.
How to set it up
Before you begin
You will need back-end access to your page to install a JavaScript SDK.
Canny Identify is usually installed by a developer or engineer. Installation is easy and generally takes less than 10 minutes.
You can easily invite a teammate from the Admins page in your Canny settings.
Sample message to send your dev team:
“Hey, can you install the Canny snippet and implement the Identify function so users are automatically recognized when they give feedback? Here is the link to the docs: https://developers.canny.io/install”
Installing the SDK
Add a link to your Canny board somewhere in your product after the user has logged in.
Use the Canny Identify JavaScript SDK code in your application on the page where the link is embedded. (You'll have to modify it to pass in the current user's data).
(Optional): Visit https://developers.canny.io/install/security to add the Secure Identify component and prevent user impersonation. Learn more about Secure Identify
Note: Canny Identify won't identify admins. Please use a non-admin account when testing.
Things to note:
Canny Identify is separate from Canny’s SSO feature, which allows you to authenticate users leaving feedback via an embedded Canny widget.
An SSO redirect is recommended to identify users who arrive on your board without authentication.
Canny Identify is unrelated to SSO integrations like Okta, OneLogin, or Microsoft Entra ID to authenticate fellow admins (i.e. those listed on the Admins page in your Canny settings).
The name, email, and id fields must contain a string for a user to be successfully authenticated.
Canny Identify won't identify admins. Please use a non-admin account when testing.
Company fields and additional custom fields can also be passed to Canny via SDK.
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