Decentralized identifiers in-depth explanation

Decentralized identifiers — An in-depth Explanation

what is DID ?

DID is called decentralized identifiers

How it is used ?

Users can create their DID’s by registering themselves on blockchain .It is like your Social security number (SSN).Users can use these dids to identify themselves.

DID components

unique identifier + DID Document

DID Document

It contains information related to user .It doesn’t include any personal information like username ,SSN number etc.

It includes :

Time stamp : the time when it was created.

Cryptographic proof of its validity.

Cryptographic public keys , Number of ways that the DID can be used to authenticate

Service endpoints : It can contain multiple elements

Each element contains :

# URL : Url for a particular service , eg :- Driving licence issuing authority

# Service type : Say DL issuing Authority

#DID : We can Use this DID against URL to identify if this is actually issued by Driving licence issuing authority

NOTE: We can add multiple service endpoints in service section

DID Flow

Issuer : Issues Verifiable credentials (example Passport Authority)

Holder : Holds Verifiable credentials (example User)

Inspector-verifier : Request claims (example Custom department on Airport)

> Custom Department will check if the Holder is actually of 34 years old

> Issuer issues claim that , yes the person is of 34 years

what are Verifiable Claims ?

How do Inspector-verifier verifies a claim ?

IT will be done with the help of Issuer

Verifiable Claims is divided into 3 parts

Subject : Holder ( A user )

Issuer : DID issuer (passport authority)

Claim: Any statement say proving citizenship of a person or proving firstname , lastname of a person .

So a Verifiable Claim is when some Issuer makes a Claim about a Subject. The “verifiable” part is that it is trustworthy and tamperproof because it has been cryptographically signed by the issuer.

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contact : sethi.shivam27@gmail.com

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