Verifiable Credentials (VCs)

Overview

Verifiable Credentials (VCs) are JSON files that prove statements of a person, with data as evidence contained, and can be trustlessly verified in its authenticity and timeliness by a third party. It can securely store and transmit information about identity, attributes, or relationships between consenting entities without revealing the individual’s personal information.

By analysis of the on-chain history, IDHub is able to add credentials to the aggregated identity of the user. e.g. The credential 'long term holder' is added or created when on-chain data proofs that the identity owner has held a digital asset over an extensive period of time. These credentials can unlock custom product experiences, exclusive access, or other benefits. Credentials allow the IdentityHub to offer a tailored experience to the identity owner and show dApp offerings that fit the user's preferences.

VCs are stored as clear text JSON files, which use the JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format for storing and exchanging data. JSON is a text-based format that uses human-readable text to represent data objects consisting of attribute-value pairs and array data types. It is often used for transmitting data over networks or storing data in NoSQL databases because it is lightweight and easy to read and write.

In a JSON file, data is organized into key-value pairs, with keys represented by strings enclosed in quotation marks and values represented by strings, numbers, booleans, arrays, or other data types.

VC Schema

To create or generate a VC, it is necessary to have a corresponding VC schema. A VC schema is a data model that defines the information that can be included in a VC and the rules for structuring, formatting, and organizing that information. It typically contains three critical fields: author, id, and content.

In the IDHub, the VC schema outlines the types of information that can be included in a VC, the relationships between different data elements, and any requirements that must be fulfilled to validate a VC.

To read more, check out our articles on Verifiable Credentials: Part 1 Part 2