Credential

A credential is evidence that a person or entity has a claimed attribute, such as authority, qualifications, or identity, and is used to establish trust in transactions, access, or verification. The term derives from Latin credere, meaning to believe, and from the sense of a trustworthy document or certificate.

Credentials come in many forms. Academic credentials include degrees, diplomas, and transcripts. Professional credentials include licenses, registrations, and certifications issued by authorities or professional bodies. Identification credentials include passports, national IDs, and employee badges. In some contexts, a credential is a document that requests verification of a person’s claims.

In computing, digital credentials are electronic proofs that a subject’s identity or rights are recognized by a system. They may be implemented as digital certificates (such as X.509), tokens, or keys managed through public key infrastructure, and are used to authenticate users, authorize access, or sign data.

Credentialing processes involve evaluation and verification by issuing bodies, and may require renewal or continuing education. Accreditations and licensure are common forms of credentialing in education and professions. Security concerns include forgery, theft, revocation, and expiry, which necessitate revocation lists, expiration dates, and secure storage.

In everyday use, credentials help establish credibility and reduce risk in activities such as hiring, travel, online services, and inter-organizational cooperation. Related concepts include attestation, certification, accreditation, and authorization.