---
title: "Default"
description: "Enhance user session management with the Default Authenticator, supporting Passport.js integration and session persistence. (Gitana 4.0)"
product: "Gitana"
version: "4.0"
url: "/documentation/gitana/4.0/developers/app-server/authentication/authenticators/default"
---

# Default

The Default Authenticator supports the storage of the user object onto the request.

The `user` variable on the request is set on `login()` and removed on `logout()`. Its presence is used to determine whether a user is authenticated or not.

In addition, the Passport.js `logIn` and `logout` functions are supported. If they are available on the request, they will be invoked.

Finally, `req.session` is supported. If `req.session` is available, its `save()` method will be called to persist session state after login and after logout.

## Configuration

There is no additional configuration required.