#Understanding Service Instance References in Vidos

Service instance references enable services to connect with and utilize other services in a secure, flexible manner. These references provide the foundation for service composition, allowing you to build complex, interrelated systems while maintaining clear boundaries and dependencies.

#Types of Service Instance References

Vidos supports different types of service instance references to address various operational patterns:

#Instance References

Instance references point to specific service instances with explicit identifiers:

• Reference a unique instance by its resource ID
• Include a service role reference for authentication
• Provide precise control over which instance is used
• Enable connection to specific, custom-configured instances
• Support fine-grained service composition

Example of an instance reference:

{
    "type": "instance",
    "resourceId": "custom-verifier-instance",
    "serviceRole": {
        "owner": "account",
        "resourceId": "verifier-role"
    }
}

#Managed References

Managed references delegate instance selection to Vidos, simplifying configuration for standard scenarios.

Example of a managed reference:

{
    "type": "managed"
}

Reference types give you flexibility in how services are composed, from explicit control to managed simplicity.