The text provides a detailed guide on accessing authenticated user data using Clerk, highlighting methods suitable for different runtime environments and application needs. It emphasizes the use of Clerk's Frontend API with the `useUser()` hook for client-side operations, which is ideal for dynamically updating the UI based on user data without exceeding rate limits. For server-side tasks, the `currentUser()` function from Clerk's Backend API is recommended, though it is subject to rate limits of 100 requests per 10 seconds. Additionally, session claims offer a way to efficiently access user information without API calls, though they have size limitations due to browser cookie constraints. The guide advises against storing large or private user data in session tokens and suggests leveraging custom session claims for frequent backend access to avoid API call limitations, while also noting the importance of choosing the right method based on the specific use case and environment.