W3C published Decentralized Identifiers v1.0 as a Recommendation on 19 July 2022. The specification defines identifiers that can be separated from central registries and conventional identity providers.
A DID is associated with a document that can describe verification methods, cryptographic material or services. These mechanisms help a controller demonstrate control of the identifier.
The announcement describes a general identity specification. A subject can be an organisation, an object or another entity; the standard is not limited to one blockchain application. This archive brief records the Recommendation’s publication. The source links to the specification for readers who want to examine the data model and its precise requirements.