# Overview

Unfurl Connect is a lock-aware identity provider – think “Connect with Google”, but Unfurl allows gated access based on [Unlock](https://unlock-protocol.com/) membership tokens.

So, as a user, you are allowing access, not to your photos, but to your on-chain entitlements (e.g. "Basic" or "Pro" subscription)

As a client, you get super-easy, slick experience gating access via memberships. Unlock makes this possible.

### Motivation

Unfurl Connect was born out of my desire for a platform/framework/language-independent way to use Unlock. The vision for users being Unlock subscriptions on your smart TV. The vision for services is a 30-minute setup to start taking Crypto for subscriptions services regardless of technology – even if the service didn’t previously have authentication.

### Guides: Jump right in

Follow our handy guides to get started on the basics as quickly as possible:

{% content-ref url="guides/quickstart" %}
[quickstart](https://docs.unfurl-connect.com/guides/quickstart)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="guides/easy-integration" %}
[easy-integration](https://docs.unfurl-connect.com/guides/easy-integration)
{% endcontent-ref %}

### Fundamentals: Dive a little deeper

Learn the fundamentals of Unfurl to get a deeper understanding of our main features:

{% content-ref url="guides/branding" %}
[branding](https://docs.unfurl-connect.com/guides/branding)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="guides/advanced-configuration" %}
[advanced-configuration](https://docs.unfurl-connect.com/guides/advanced-configuration)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="guides/self-hosting-the-idp" %}
[self-hosting-the-idp](https://docs.unfurl-connect.com/guides/self-hosting-the-idp)
{% endcontent-ref %}


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