handle (username)A handle is a username that identifies a network user. Handles are most often used in the context of email, postings to netnews, IRC, or logging onto a system that requires user registration. Some email systems use a complete first and last name, separated by an underscore, such as Mary_Smith@cs.youruniv.edu. But it is commoner to find email systems that use initials, truncate names, or use a combination of letters and numbers, such as : ms84x@cs.youruniv.edu. Some of these truncations are hard to remember, so when given a chance, people select handles that will be easier to remember.