# Choose what SAML sends as a login hint

You can now control the identifier Clerk sends to your identity provider (IdP) when a member starts a SAML sign-in. Configure the **Login hint** section on each SAML connection in the [Clerk Dashboard](https://dashboard.clerk.com/~/user-authentication/sso-connections):

- **Email address** sends the member's email address. This is the default for named SAML providers.
- **Custom attribute** sends the value of a custom attribute that you select on the connection. Use this when your IdP identifies members with an employee ID, username, or another value instead of their email address.
- **Off** sends no login hint.

Custom SAML connections don't send a login hint until you select **Email address** or **Custom attribute**. Existing named SAML connections keep their email-address behavior unless you change the setting.

For setup steps and details about custom attributes, see [the SAML login hint documentation](https://clerk.com/docs/guides/configure/auth-strategies/enterprise-connections.md#configure-a-saml-login-hint).