User login types
Meeting SDKs offer support for various user login types. Users can either use the SDK as a logged-in user or non-logged in user.
- A logged in user utilizes the SDK by logging in via single sign-on (SSO).
- A non-logged in user can either use SDK anonymously - without logging in - or can authenticate via either a Zoom Access Key (ZAK) or an On Behalf Of (OBF) token obtained through the Meeting API.
Note: For apps that need to be a participant and show on the participant list, use a ZAK token or OBF token. For apps that only process media, use RTMS.
Requirements for external meeting access
To join meetings outside of your developer account, your app must:
- Be reviewed by Zoom.
- Authenticate with either a ZAK or On Behalf Of (OBF) token to attribute to a user in a meeting.
You can:
- Publish the approved app on the Zoom App Marketplace.
- Set your app to unlisted.
- Contact the Integrated Software Vendor (ISV) sales team for other options.
Non-logged in users
Non-logged in users have the option to access certain SDK methods, such as join meeting, as anonymous users. This doesn't require logging in. To have an anonymous user host or start a meeting on behalf of someone else, first authenticate the non-logged in user with the host's ZAK token or OBF token.
Billing notes: Anonymous users' SDK feature usage is billed to the Client ID and Client Secret owner (app developer). When a user hosts a meeting on behalf of another user using that other user's ZAK or OBF token, usage is billed to the meeting host, not the app developer.
Logged in users
For logged in users, the authentication process involves signing in via SSO. Once authenticated, users gain access to the full range of built-in SDK functions and can directly host a meeting.
Note: The Meeting SDK doesn't support logging in directly with a username and password.
Compare login types
| Account Type | Non-logged in (Anonymous) | Non-logged in (ZAK) | Non-logged in (OBF) | Logged in (SSO) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host a scheduled meeting | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Join a meeting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Start an instant meeting | No | Yes† | No | Yes† |
| Schedule & manage meetings‡ | through the Meeting API | through the Meeting API | n/a | through the Meeting API |
† Starting an instant meeting requires entering the user's Personal Meeting ID (PMI), which can be obtained through the Meeting API.
‡ Scheduling and managing meetings are handled through the Meeting API, not directly in the Meeting SDK.