Your password is a group of up to 8 characters that provides proof of who you claim to be. Passwords are not made public but user IDs generally are available to anyone on the system. Thus anyone can try to log on with your user ID, but only you or those who know your password, can actually log on and begin a TSO/E session under your user ID.

If your installation requires a password, your administrator gives you one and tells you the restrictions, if any, your installation has on password usage.