#Explanations

This section builds your mental model of how Vidos works and why its designed the way it is. Unlike tutorials or how-to guides that focus on practical steps, explanations help you understand the underlying concepts, architecture, and design decisions behind Vidos.

#When to use explanations

Use these explanation documents when you:

• Need to understand the big picture of Vidos architecture
• Want to learn about the underlying concepts and standards
• Are making architectural decisions for your implementation
• Need context for why certain features work the way they do
• Are planning how different Vidos services will work together
• Want to understand the trust models and security principles

Explanations help build a foundation of knowledge that makes tutorials and reference documentation more meaningful and easier to apply effectively.

#Core Concepts

#Triangle of Trust

The Triangle of Trust forms the foundation of verifiable credential ecosystems. This model explains the relationships between issuers, holders, and verifiers that make trusted credential exchange possible.

#Services

Vidos provides multiple interoperable services that work together to enable verification workflows:

• Resolver Service - Understand how the Resolver service translates decentralized identifiers into DID documents containing cryptographic material
• Verifier Service - Learn about the service that validates cryptographic proofs and credentials

#Standards

Vidos builds on established standards to ensure interoperability and security:

#W3C Standards

• Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) - Learn about the identifiers that enable verifiable, decentralized digital identity

  • DID Documents - Understand the structure and purpose of DID documents
  • DID Resolution - Learn how DIDs are resolved to their corresponding DID documents
  • DID URL Dereferencing - Understand how to retrieve resources associated with DIDs
  • DID Methods - Learn about different DID method implementations
  • DID Controllers - Understand the role of controllers in the DID ecosystem
  • DID Use Cases - Explore common scenarios where DIDs add value

• Verifiable Credentials - Learn about the digital credentials that enable secure, privacy-preserving attribute verification

  • Credential Schema - Understand how schemas define credential structure
  • Credential Status - Learn about methods for checking if credentials are valid or revoked
  • Issuers - Understand the role of credential issuers
  • Subjects - Learn about credential subjects and their attributes
  • Validity Periods - Understand how credential validity is managed
  • Verifiable Presentations - Learn how credentials are packaged for verification
  • Securing Mechanisms - Understand the cryptographic methods that secure credentials

#Management Concepts

Learn about the management aspects of Vidos:

• Configurations - Understand how Vidos services are configured
• Instances - Learn about instance management and lifecycle
• Identity and Access Management - Understand Vidos' IAM capabilities
• Regions - Learn about Vidos' geographical distribution

#Reading Approach

For a solid understanding of Vidos, we recommend:

1. Start with the Triangle of Trust to understand the foundational model
2. Explore the key standards that Vidos implements (DIDs and Verifiable Credentials)
3. Learn about the core Vidos services and how they work together
4. Understand the management concepts for operating Vidos effectively

This knowledge provides the context needed to make the most of Vidos' capabilities and integrate them effectively into your identity and verification workflows.