Verifiable Credentials Data Model
The W3C standard for digital credentials. Increasingly important for identity verification, age proofs, academic credentials, and government ID use cases.
What It Defines
W3C spec for Verifiable Credentials: tamper-evident claims about a subject signed by an issuer, held by a holder, and verified by a verifier. Uses JSON-LD or CBOR encoding. The standard for digital credentials (diplomas, licenses, proofs).
Canonical (Normative)
Convenient (Practical)
Publishes web platform specs including CSS, accessibility, security policies, Service Workers, Web App Manifest, and many browser APIs. Also maintains some versioned HTML/DOM specs.
Related Specs
DIDs are the foundation of self-sovereign identity (SSI) and Web3 identity. They underpin Verifiable Credentials, Sign-In with Ethereum, and many blockchain identity schemes.
SIWE is the Web3 equivalent of Sign-In with Google. Enables dApps to authenticate users via their Ethereum address without a password, using their wallet signature.