Credencial

A credencial is a document or object that proves a person’s identity, authorization to act, or membership in a group. The term is common in Spanish and Portuguese and derives from the Latin credere, “to believe.” A credencial is issued by a trusted authority and serves as evidence of the holder’s qualifications.

Physical credentials include government IDs (national IDs, driver’s licenses, passports), workplace badges, student IDs, professional licenses, and event passes. They typically display the holder’s name and photo, expiration date, and may include security features to deter forgery.

Digital credentials authenticate users or authorize access to systems and data. They include usernames and passwords, digital certificates (X.509), smart cards, and tokens. Federated identity standards such as SAML and OpenID Connect enable single sign-on across organizations.

Issuance and management: Credentials are issued by a trusted authority after identity verification and may be revoked if compromised. They have validity periods, renewal procedures, and policies governing storage, sharing, and scope of access.

Security and privacy: Protecting credentials is critical. Loss, theft, or phishing can lead to unauthorized access. Best practices include multi-factor authentication, encryption, least-privilege access, and regular audits.

Contexts: Credentials are used in government, industry, education, travel, and events for identity verification and access control. The concept overlaps with identity cards, badges, licenses, and digital trust frameworks.