Identify Users

Access User Information

You can leverage the addOnUISdk.app.currentUser API to to retrieve information for the current user using Adobe Express. Three asynchronous methods are available:

userId(): returns a masked ID that is unique to the user and persistent
isPremiumUser(): returns true if the user has a premium Adobe Express subscription, false otherwise
isAnonymousUser(): returns true if the current user is browsing as a guest (not signed in), false otherwise

Example

import addOnUISdk from "https://express.adobe.com/static/add-on-sdk/sdk.js";

addOnUISdk.ready.then(async () => {
  const userId = await addOnUISdk.app.currentUser.userId();
  const isPremium = await addOnUISdk.app.currentUser.isPremiumUser();
  const isAnonymous = await addOnUISdk.app.currentUser.isAnonymousUser();

  console.log(`Current Userid:\n${userId}`);
  // Current Userid:
  // 3cda976828a4a90d13b0f38b1f8a59b1d6845cabfc48037fb30bb75d3ef67d36`

  console.log(`Is Premium User: ${isPremium}`);
  // Is Premium User: false

  console.log(`Is Anonymous User: ${isAnonymous}`);
  // Is Anonymous User: false
});
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import addOnUISdk from "https://express.adobe.com/static/add-on-sdk/sdk.js";

addOnUISdk.ready.then(async () => {
  const userId = await addOnUISdk.app.currentUser.userId();
  const isPremium = await addOnUISdk.app.currentUser.isPremiumUser();
  const isAnonymous = await addOnUISdk.app.currentUser.isAnonymousUser();

  console.log(`Current Userid:\n${userId}`);
  // Current Userid:
  // 3cda976828a4a90d13b0f38b1f8a59b1d6845cabfc48037fb30bb75d3ef67d36`

  console.log(`Is Premium User: ${isPremium}`);
  // Is Premium User: false

  console.log(`Is Anonymous User: ${isAnonymous}`);
  // Is Anonymous User: false
});

Use Cases

The userId() serves as a unique identifier that you can use to track whether a user is a free or paid subscriber to your add-on. By storing this ID in your database, you can manage user-specific features and permissions, allowing your add-on to unlock premium functionalities or restrict access based on their subscription status. Similarly, isPremiumUser() return value can be used to tailor the user experience, for example suggesting Adobe Express premium features.

Please refer to the addOnUISdk.app.currentUser and the licensed-addon code sample, which shows how you can utilize the hash of the user ID to integrate your add-on with licensing and payment services.

Handling Anonymous Users

When isAnonymousUser() returns true, the user is browsing as a guest without logging in. This creates important considerations for your add-on's functionality:

Data Persistence Limitations

User settings: Any preferences or configurations tied to the userId will not persist beyond the current session or approximately 24 hours
User identification: The userId for anonymous users is temporary and will change if they later log in
Recommendation: Use local storage for temporary settings and prompt users to log in for persistent features

Analytics Considerations

User tracking: Anonymous user IDs are not permanent and will change upon login, potentially creating duplicate user records
Recommendation: Implement logic to handle user ID transitions or track anonymous sessions separately

Export Restrictions

Content export: Anonymous users cannot export final content (only preview renditions are allowed)
User experience: Export attempts will trigger a login prompt, which can disrupt the user flow
Recommendation: Check isAnonymousUser() before showing export options and provide a proactive "Sign in to export" message instead of letting users encounter errors

FAQs

Q: How do I get the current user's ID?

A: Call await addOnUISdk.app.currentUser.userId() to get an anonymized unique user ID.

Q: How do I check if a user has premium subscription?

A: Call await addOnUISdk.app.currentUser.isPremiumUser() to get a boolean premium status.

Q: How do I check if a user is anonymous (not logged in)?

A: Call await addOnUISdk.app.currentUser.isAnonymousUser() to check if the user is browsing as a guest.

Q: Is the user ID persistent?

A: Yes, the anonymized user ID is unique and persistent for each user. However, for anonymous users, the ID is temporary and will change if they later log in.

Q: Are these methods synchronous?

A: No, userId(), isPremiumUser(), and isAnonymousUser() are all asynchronous methods that return promises.

Q: What can I use the user ID for?

A: Track user subscriptions, manage user-specific features, and integrate with licensing services.

Q: How can I use premium status information?

A: Tailor user experience, unlock premium features, or suggest Adobe Express premium functionality.

Q: Is the user ID personally identifiable?

A: No, the user ID is anonymized and cannot be used to identify users personally.

Q: What limitations do anonymous users have?

A: Anonymous users cannot export final content (only preview renditions), have temporary user IDs that don't persist beyond 24 hours, and their settings won't persist across sessions.

Q: How should I handle data persistence for anonymous users?

A: Use local storage for temporary settings and prompt users to log in for persistent features. Anonymous user data should be treated as ephemeral.

Q: Can anonymous users use all add-on features?

A: Anonymous users can use most features but cannot export final content. Always check isAnonymousUser() before showing export options and provide a "Sign in to export" message.

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