(n.) An object that is verified when presented to the verifier in an authentication transaction. Credentials may be bound in some way to the individual to whom they were issued, or they may be bearer credentials. The former are necessary for identification, while the latter may be acceptable for some forms of authorization.
Electronic credentials can be digital documents used in authentication and access control that bind an identity or an attribute to a claimant’s token or some other property, such as a current network address. Credentials are verified when presented to the verifier in an authentication transaction. Anonymous credentials are used to evaluate an attribute when authentication need not be associated with a known personal identity.
