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Create a DID

Where this task sits in the credentials workflow:

Credentials workflow - Issue

DIDs (Decentralized Identifiers) are a type of globally unique identifier for a resource. The DID is similar to a URL and can be resolved to a DID document which offers metadata about the identified resource. Because a DID is created in association with a public/private key pair, the controller of the private key is able to prove control of the DID and thus authenticate themselves.

Creating a DID is, in essence, a way of identifying yourself as an agent (that is, as an issuer, a holder or a verifier) in a way that is tied to provable ownership of a cryptographic key.

In this task you will create a DID with which you can identify yourself as an agent.

Prerequisites​

  • You are logged in to the Desk
  • You have at least one key, (preconfigured or from generating a key)

To create a DID​

  1. On the left sidebar, choose DIDs.

  2. On the top-right of the DIDs page, choose + New DID.

    → DID setup opens.

  3. Complete the DID setup, then choose Next step.

    • Name – Give the DID a name.

    • Method – Choose a DID method. Choose "did:web" for flexibility in the next step.

  4. Complete the Keys setup, then choose Next step.

    • Key – Choose a key for DID creation.

    • Role – Some DID methods allow for specification of different keys to fulfill different roles. See the keys object docs for more info. By default all 5 roles are selected for the first key you choose. If you wish, you can add another key via the + Add key button, then specify which roles the key should fulfill.

  5. Review the New DID setup, then choose Generate.

🎉 Congratulations! You've successfully created a new DID!

With a DID you can identify yourself as an agent and securely issue, hold, or verify credentials.

info

When you've created a DID you can optionally add it to the trial environment's trust list. This tells the wallet holder that your DID is trusted as an issuer or a verifier (or both) and enables the wallet to display and reference key information about your entity such:

  • Name and logo
  • Official website link
  • Terms of Service link
  • Privacy Policy link

If your DID is not published to the trial environment's trust list, the wallet will display your DID and describe you as an "Unknown issuer" or "Unknown verifier".

To add your DID to a trust list​

  1. On the left sidebar, choose Trust management.

  2. On the top-right of the Trust management page, choose + Publish.

    → Publication setup opens.

  3. Complete the trust publication setup, then choose Next step.

    • Trust list – (preselected) The trial environment uses the Procivis One Trust Registry; all DIDs published in Trust management are added to this list.

    • DID – Select the DID to publish to the trust list.

    • Role – Select whether this DID is trusted as an issuer, a verifier, or both.

    • Name – Enter the name of the entity controlling the DID.

    • Website – Enter your official website. During interactions, wallet holders can follow a link to your website.

    • Logo – Upload a logo to display to wallet holders.

    • Terms of service – Enter the URL of your Terms of Service. During issuance and verification, wallet holders can follow the link to read before continuing the interaction.

    • Privacy Policy – Enter the URL of your Privacy Policy. During issuance and verification, wallet holders can follow the link to read before continuing the interaction.

  4. Review the DID publication request, then choose Save.

🎉 Congratulations! You've successfully added your DID to a trust list!

Now as you issue and verify, wallet holders will see important information about who you are.