> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cometchat-22654f5b-docs-rn-guide-message-privately.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# User Management
> Create, update, and manage CometChat users programmatically using the React Native SDK. Includes user creation, profile updates, and the User class reference.
```javascript theme={null}
// Create a user
const user = new CometChat.User("user1");
user.setName("Kevin");
await CometChat.createUser(user, "AUTH_KEY");
// Update a user
user.setName("Kevin Fernandez");
await CometChat.updateUser(user, "AUTH_KEY");
// Update logged-in user (no auth key needed)
await CometChat.updateCurrentUserDetails(user);
```
**Note:** User creation/deletion should ideally happen on your backend via the [REST API](https://api-explorer.cometchat.com).
Users must exist in CometChat before they can log in. This page covers creating, updating, and deleting users. All methods that return user data return a [`User`](/sdk/reference/entities#user) object.
The typical flow:
1. User registers in your app → Create user in CometChat
2. User logs into your app → [Log user into CometChat](/sdk/react-native/authentication-overview)
User deletion is only available via the [REST API](https://api-explorer.cometchat.com/reference/delete-user) — there is no client-side SDK method for it.
## Creating a User
User creation should ideally happen on your backend via the [REST API](https://api-explorer.cometchat.com/reference/creates-user).
**Security:** Never expose your `Auth Key` in client-side production code. User creation and updates using `Auth Key` should ideally happen on your backend server. Use client-side creation only for prototyping or development.
For client-side creation (development only), use `createUser()`:
```typescript theme={null}
let authKey: string = "AUTH_KEY";
let uid: string = "user1";
let name: string = "Kevin";
let user: CometChat.User = new CometChat.User(uid);
user.setName(name);
CometChat.createUser(user, authKey).then(
(user: CometChat.User) => {
console.log("user created", user);
}, (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
console.log("error", error);
}
);
```
```javascript theme={null}
let authKey = "AUTH_KEY";
let uid = "user1";
let name = "Kevin";
let user = new CometChat.User(uid);
user.setName(name);
CometChat.createUser(user, authKey).then(
user => {
console.log("user created", user);
}, error => {
console.log("error", error);
}
)
```
Returns a [`User`](/sdk/reference/entities#user) object. See [User Class](#user-class) for all available fields.
UID can be alphanumeric with underscore and hyphen. Spaces, punctuation and other special characters are not allowed.
## Updating a User
Like creation, user updates should ideally happen on your backend via the [REST API](https://api-explorer.cometchat.com/reference/update-user).
For client-side updates (development only), use `updateUser()`:
```typescript theme={null}
let authKey: string = "AUTH_KEY";
let uid: string = "user1";
let name: string = "Kevin Fernandez";
let user: CometChat.User = new CometChat.User(uid);
user.setName(name);
CometChat.updateUser(user, authKey).then(
(user: CometChat.User) => {
console.log("user updated", user);
}, (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
console.log("error", error);
}
)
```
```javascript theme={null}
let authKey = "AUTH_KEY";
let uid = "user1";
let name = "Kevin Fernandez";
let user = new CometChat.User(uid);
user.setName(name);
CometChat.updateUser(user, authKey).then(
user => {
console.log("user updated", user);
}, error => {
console.log("error", error);
}
)
```
Ensure the [`User`](/sdk/reference/entities#user) object has the correct `UID` set.
Returns a [`User`](/sdk/reference/entities#user) object. See [User Class](#user-class) for all available fields.
## Updating Logged-in User
Use `updateCurrentUserDetails()` to update the current user without an Auth Key. Note: You cannot update the user's role with this method.
```typescript theme={null}
let uid: string = "user1";
let name: string = "Kevin Fernandez";
let user: CometChat.User = new CometChat.User(uid);
user.setName(name);
CometChat.updateCurrentUserDetails(user).then(
(user: CometChat.User) => {
console.log("user updated", user);
}, (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
console.log("error", error);
}
);
```
```javascript theme={null}
let uid = "user1";
let name = "Kevin Fernandez";
let user = new CometChat.User(uid);
user.setName(name);
CometChat.updateCurrentUserDetails(user).then(
user => {
console.log("user updated", user);
}, error => {
console.log("error", error);
}
)
```
The method returns a [`User`](/sdk/reference/entities#user) object.
## Deleting a user
User deletion is only available via the [REST API](https://api-explorer.cometchat.com/reference/delete-user).
## User Class
| Field | Editable | Information |
| ------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| uid | specified on user creation. Not editable after that | Unique identifier of the user |
| name | Yes | Display name of the user |
| avatar | Yes | URL to profile picture of the user |
| link | Yes | URL to profile page |
| role | Yes | User role of the user for role based access control |
| metadata | Yes | Additional information about the user as JSON |
| status | No | Status of the user. Could be either online/offline |
| statusMessage | Yes | Any custom status message that needs to be set for a user |
| lastActiveAt | No | The unix timestamp of the time the user was last active. |
| hasBlockedMe | No | A boolean that determines if the user has blocked the logged in user |
| blockedByMe | No | A boolean that determines if the logged in user has blocked the user |
| tags | Yes | A list of tags to identify specific users |
***
## Next Steps
Fetch and filter user lists with pagination.
Monitor real-time online/offline status.
Block and unblock users.
Log users into CometChat.