> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.prelude.so/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Introduction to Auth

> Manage the full lifecycle of your users' authentication.

## Overview

Prelude Auth is a complete authentication API for developer teams. With this API, you can manage users, handle authentication across multiple methods, track active sessions, and maintain user profiles, all through a simple and secure REST interface.

<Note>
  To enable Prelude Auth on your account, [contact us](mailto:support@prelude.so).
</Note>

## Key Features

* **OTP Login**: Authenticate users via SMS or email one-time password
* **Password Authentication**: Email and password login with configurable rules
* **Social Login** OAuth with Google, Apple, Microsoft, GitHub, and Okta
* **Step-Up Authentication** Add scoped, multi-step challenges for sensitive operations
* **Session Tracking**: Monitor active sessions with creation and last-seen timestamps
* **User Management** Create, retrieve, update, and delete users with unique identifiers
* **Identity Verification**: Associate email addresses and phone numbers with user accounts
* **Profile Management**: Store and update user profile information
* **Webhook Integration**: Configure event notifications for real-time updates

Prelude Auth helps you build robust authentication systems while offloading the complexity of session management, allowing you to focus on creating great user experiences.

### Why choose Prelude Auth?

* **One platform, zero data silos** Prelude handles both verification and authentication, so user data carries over seamlessly. Stronger fraud signals, fewer false positives, and full visibility across the onboarding flow.
* **Flexible step-up authentication** Trigger scoped challenges only when needed, for sensitive operations like password changes or high-risk transactions, without disrupting the user journey.
* **Pay for what you use** Customers have saved more than 50% vs. their previous provider by paying only for the features they actually need.

### Get started

Follow the [Integration Guide](https://docs.prelude.so/auth/documentation/integration-guide/introduction) to set up your first authentication flow in minutes.