In plain English
It is an incoming message that appears on a mobile device by itself as a prompt or alert. The person does not need to open the app first or ask for the message. The message comes directly from an app or online service.
In context
Here, it labels the multifactor sign-in option that uses a message sent directly to a mobile device so it appears there as a prompt or alert without first opening the app or requesting the message.
- Situation
- Setting passwords, multifactor authentication, recovery codes, and trusted devices
- What it communicates
- labels a sign-in approval method in the multifactor options
Meaning limits
The term by itself does not say what the message says or what happens after it appears.
Examples
“A push notification from the calendar service appeared on his phone before he opened the app.”
“At sign-in, a push notification was sent to her mobile device.”