Presenting Credentials

Presenting a verifiable credential is the process by which a holder shares proof of their credentials with a verifier. This guide will walk you through the steps to present credentials effectively.

Understanding Credential Presentation

A credential presentation (or verifiable presentation) is a tamper-evident presentation encoded in a way that allows cryptographic verification. It contains one or more verifiable credentials or derived claims that have been issued by a trusted authority.

Prerequisites

Before presenting credentials, ensure you have:

A digital wallet that supports verifiable credentials
One or more verifiable credentials stored in your wallet
A request from a verifier to present specific credentials

Steps to Present Credentials

Receive a Presentation Request

The process typically begins when you receive a presentation request from a verifier. Tipically the request will be in the form of a QR code, a link, or a direct request. This initiates a presentation request that specifies which credentials or claims they need to verify. The presentation request contains all the necessary parameters for your wallet to understand what information is being requested.

Select the Appropriate Credentials

In your digital wallet:

Review the presentation request
Select the credentials that satisfy the requirements
Ensure you’re comfortable sharing the requested information

Create the Presentation

Your wallet will:

Package the selected credentials
Digitally sign the presentation using your private key
Format the presentation according to standards (like W3C Verifiable Presentations)

There are several ways to share your presentation:

QR code scan
Direct digital transmission
Upload to a secure portal
Near-field communication (NFC)

Verification Process

After you share your presentation:

The verifier’s system will cryptographically validate the signature
Check that the credentials haven’t been revoked
Verify the issuer’s signature on each credential
Ensure the credentials meet the request requirements

Privacy Considerations

When presenting credentials, keep these privacy practices in mind:

Share only the minimum necessary information
Use selective disclosure when possible
Understand what data will be stored by the verifier and for how long
Consider using zero-knowledge proofs for enhanced privacy

Troubleshooting

Common issues when presenting credentials:

Expired credentials: Ensure your credentials are still valid
Connectivity problems: Check your internet connection
Incompatible formats: Verify the verifier supports your credential format
Authentication failures: Ensure your wallet is properly authenticated

Advanced Features

Modern credential presentation systems may support:

Selective disclosure of attributes
Zero-knowledge proofs
Biometric verification
Cross-device presentation flows

Conclusion

Presenting verifiable credentials gives you control over your digital identity while providing verifiers with trusted information. As this technology advances, the process will become increasingly seamless and secure.