diff --git a/db/db-core/src/lib.rs b/db/db-core/src/lib.rs
index 9abe9938..0b094df2 100644
--- a/db/db-core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/db/db-core/src/lib.rs
@@ -80,6 +80,15 @@ pub struct UpdateEmail<'a> {
     pub new_email: &'a str,
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, PartialEq)]
+/// types of credentials used as identifiers during login
+pub enum Login<'a> {
+    /// username as login
+    Username(&'a str),
+    /// email as login
+    Email(&'a str),
+}
+
 #[async_trait]
 /// mCaptcha's database requirements. To implement support for $Database, kindly implement this
 /// trait.
@@ -103,7 +112,7 @@ pub trait MCDatabase: std::marker::Send + std::marker::Sync + CloneSPDatabase {
     async fn update_email(&self, p: &UpdateEmail) -> DBResult<()>;
 
     /// get a user's password
-    async fn get_password(&self, username: &str) -> DBResult<String>;
+    async fn get_password(&self, l: &Login) -> DBResult<String>;
 }
 
 /// Trait to clone MCDatabase
diff --git a/db/db-core/src/tests.rs b/db/db-core/src/tests.rs
index ea77f779..12917797 100644
--- a/db/db-core/src/tests.rs
+++ b/db/db-core/src/tests.rs
@@ -30,10 +30,19 @@ pub async fn database_works<'a, T: MCDatabase>(db: &T, p: &Register<'a>) {
     db.register(p).await.unwrap();
 
     assert_eq!(
-        db.get_password(p.username).await.unwrap(),
+        db.get_password(&Login::Username(p.username)).await.unwrap(),
         p.hash,
         "user password matches"
     );
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        db.get_password(&Login::Email(p.email.as_ref().unwrap()))
+            .await
+            .unwrap(),
+        p.hash,
+        "user password matches"
+    );
+
     assert!(
         db.email_exists(p.email.as_ref().unwrap()).await.unwrap(),
         "user is registered so email should exsit"