---
title: Authenticating a user
slug: docs/parse-graphql/graphql-user-authentication
description: This is a recipe for authenticating a logged user in Parse Server backend through the GraphQL API.
image: https://www.back4app.com/images/logo-social.png
docTags: 
createdAt: 2024-02-27T13:08:02.390Z
---

# Authenticating a logged user through the Parse GraphQL API

## Problem

You want to authenticate a logged user in your backend through the Parse GraphQL API.

## Solution

Using the Parse GraphQL API, you can authenticate a logged user just by sending the user’s <font color="#2166ae">`sessionToken`</font> (that you may have acquired by [signing up](https://www.back4app.com/docs/parse-graphql/graphql-sign-up) or [logging in](https://www.back4app.com/docs/parse-graphql/graphql-login) this user) through the <font color="#2166ae">`X-Parse-Session-Token`</font> header. This header can be sent in any operation and it will make this operation to be run in the behavior of the authenticated user.

The <font color="#2166ae">`X-Parse-Session-Token`</font> can be easily set in the Parse Dashboard GraphQL Playground through the <font color="#2166ae">`HTTP HEADERS`</font> option in the bottom left side of this tool.



![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/zJ-w--S3pZaInDW9En-qZ_image.png)