diff --git a/index.html b/index.html index 4ac16723d..a6cd370fe 100644 --- a/index.html +++ b/index.html @@ -421,46 +421,41 @@

Ecosystem Overview

[=holder=]
-A role an [=entity=] might perform by possessing one or more -[=verifiable credentials=] and generating [=verifiable presentations=] -from them. Example holders include students, employees, and customers. +A role an [=entity=] might perform by possessing one or more [=verifiable +credentials=] and generating [=verifiable presentations=] from them. A holder is +often, but not always, a [=subject=] of the [=verifiable credentials=] they are +holding. Holders store their [=credentials=] in [=credential repositories=]. +Example holders include students, employees, and customers.
[=issuer=]
-A role an [=entity=] performs by asserting [=claims=] about one or -more [=subjects=], creating a [=verifiable credential=] from these -[=claims=], and transmitting the [=verifiable credential=] to a -[=holder=]. Example issuers include corporations, non-profit organizations, -trade associations, governments, and individuals. +A role an [=entity=] can perform by asserting [=claims=] about one or more +[=subjects=], creating a [=verifiable credential=] from these [=claims=], and +transmitting the [=verifiable credential=] to a [=holder=]. Example issuers +include corporations, non-profit organizations, trade associations, governments, +and individuals.
[=subject=]
-An [=entity=] about which [=claims=] are made. Example subjects include -human beings, animals, and things. In many cases the [=holder=] of a -[=verifiable credential=] is the subject, but in certain cases it is not. For -example, a parent (the [=holder=]) might hold the -[=verifiable credentials=] of a child (the [=subject=]), or a pet owner -(the [=holder=]) might hold the [=verifiable credentials=] of their pet -(the [=subject=]). For more information about these special cases, see the - -Subject-Holder Relationships section in the [[[VC-IMP-GUIDE]]]. +A thing about which [=claims=] are made. Example subjects include human beings, +animals, and things.
[=verifier=]
-A role an [=entity=] performs by receiving one or more -[=verifiable credentials=], optionally inside a -[=verifiable presentation=], for processing. Example verifiers include -employers, security personnel, and websites. +A role an [=entity=] performs by receiving one or more [=verifiable +credentials=], optionally inside a [=verifiable presentation=] for processing. +Example verifiers include employers, security personnel, and websites.
[=verifiable data registry=]
-A role a system might perform by mediating the creation and [=verification=] -of identifiers, [=verification material=], and other relevant data, such as -[=verifiable credential=] schemas, revocation registries, -and so on, which might be required to use [=verifiable credentials=]. Some -configurations might require correlatable identifiers for [=subjects=]. -Example verifiable data registries include trusted databases, decentralized -databases, government ID databases, and distributed ledgers. Often +A role a system might perform by mediating the creation and [=verification=] of +identifiers, [=verification material=], and other relevant data, such as +[=verifiable credential=] schemas, revocation registries, and so on, which might +be required to use [=verifiable credentials=]. Some configurations might require +correlatable identifiers for [=subjects=]. Some registries, such as ones for +UUIDs and [=verification material=], might just act as namespaces for +identifiers. Example verifiable data registries include trusted databases, +decentralized databases, government ID databases, and distributed ledgers. Often there is more than one type of verifiable data registry utilized in an ecosystem.
@@ -484,6 +479,17 @@

Ecosystem Overview

protected environments or proprietary systems, where [=verifiable credentials=] also provide benefit.

+ +

+In many cases the [=holder=] of a [=verifiable credential=] is the subject, but +in certain cases it is not. For example, a parent (the [=holder=]) might hold +the [=verifiable credentials=] of a child (the [=subject=]), or a pet owner (the +[=holder=]) might hold the [=verifiable credentials=] of their pet (the +[=subject=]). For more information about these special cases, see the + +Subject-Holder Relationships section in the [[[VC-IMP-GUIDE]]]. +

+

For a deeper exploration of the [=verifiable credentials=] ecosystem, along with a concrete lifecycle example, please refer to [[[VC-USE-CASES]]] [[?VC-USE-CASES]].