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Verifiable Credentials JS Library (@digitalbazaar/vc)

A Javascript library for issuing and verifying Verifiable Credentials.

Security
Background
Install
Usage
Testing
Contribute
Commercial Support
License

Security

As with most security- and cryptography-related tools, the overall security of your system will largely depend on your design decisions (which key types you will use, where you'll store the private keys, what you put into your credentials, and so on.)

Background

This library is a Javascript (Node.js and browser) implementation of the Verifiable Credentials Data Model 1.0 specification (the JWT serialization is not currently supported).

It allows you to perform the following basic operations:

Signing (issuing) a Verifiable Credential (VC).
Creating a Verifiable Presentation (VP), signed or unsigned
Verifying a VP
Verifying a standalone VC

Pre-requisites: Usage of this library assumes you have the ability to do the following:

Generate LD key pairs and signature suites
Publish the corresponding public keys somewhere that is accessible to the verifier.
Make sure your custom @contexts, verification methods (such as public keys) and their corresponding controller documents, and any other resolvable objects, are reachable via a documentLoader.

Install

Browsers and Node.js 18+ are supported.

To install from NPM:

npm install @digitalbazaar/vc

To install locally (for development):

git clone https://github.com/digitalbazaar/vc.git
cd vc
npm install

Usage

Setting up a signature suite

For signing, when setting up a signature suite, you will need to pass in a key pair containing a private key.

import * as vc from '@digitalbazaar/vc';

// Required to set up a suite instance with private key
import {Ed25519VerificationKey2020} from
  '@digitalbazaar/ed25519-verification-key-2020';
import {Ed25519Signature2020} from '@digitalbazaar/ed25519-signature-2020';

const keyPair = await Ed25519VerificationKey2020.generate();

const suite = new Ed25519Signature2020({key: keyPair});

Issuing a Verifiable Credential

Pre-requisites:

You have a private key (with id and controller) and corresponding suite
If you're using a custom @context, make sure it's resolvable
(Recommended) You have a strategy for where to publish your Controller Document and Public Key

import * as vc from '@digitalbazaar/vc';

// Sample unsigned credential
const credential = {
  "@context": [
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1",
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/examples/v1"
  ],
  "id": "https://example.com/credentials/1872",
  "type": ["VerifiableCredential", "AlumniCredential"],
  "issuer": "https://example.edu/issuers/565049",
  "issuanceDate": "2010-01-01T19:23:24Z",
  "credentialSubject": {
    "id": "did:example:ebfeb1f712ebc6f1c276e12ec21",
    "alumniOf": "Example University"
  }
};

const signedVC = await vc.issue({credential, suite, documentLoader});
console.log(JSON.stringify(signedVC, null, 2));

Issuing a Selective Disclosure Verifiable Credential

Pre-requisites:

You have a private key (with id and controller) and corresponding suite
You have are using a cryptosuite that supports selective disclosure, such as ecdsa-sd-2023 or bbs-2023
If you're using a custom @context, make sure it's resolvable
(Recommended) You have a strategy for where to publish your Controller Document and Public Key

Issuing using ecdsa-sd-2023:

import * as EcdsaMultikey from '@digitalbazaar/ecdsa-multikey';
import * as ecdsaSd2023Cryptosuite from
  '@digitalbazaar/ecdsa-sd-2023-cryptosuite';
import * as vc from '@digitalbazaar/vc';
import {DataIntegrityProof} from '@digitalbazaar/data-integrity';

const ecdsaKeyPair = await EcdsaMultikey.generate({
  curve: 'P-256',
  id: 'https://example.edu/issuers/keys/2',
  controller: 'https://example.edu/issuers/565049'
});

// sample exported key pair
/*
{
  "@context": "https://w3id.org/security/multikey/v1",
  "id": "https://example.edu/issuers/keys/2",
  "type": "Multikey",
  "controller": "https://example.edu/issuers/565049",
  "publicKeyMultibase": "zDnaeWJjGpXnQAbEpRur3kSWFapGZbwGnFCkzyhiq7nDeXXrM",
  "secretKeyMultibase": "z42trzSpncjWFaB9cKE2Gg5hxtbuAQa5mVJgGwjrugHMacdM"
}
*/

// sample unsigned credential
const credential = {
  "@context": [
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1",
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/examples/v1"
  ],
  "id": "https://example.com/credentials/1872",
  "type": ["VerifiableCredential", "AlumniCredential"],
  "issuer": "https://example.edu/issuers/565049",
  "issuanceDate": "2010-01-01T19:23:24Z",
  "credentialSubject": {
    "id": "did:example:ebfeb1f712ebc6f1c276e12ec21",
    "alumniOf": "Example University"
  }
};

// setup ecdsa-sd-2023 suite for signing selective disclosure VCs
const suite = new DataIntegrityProof({
  signer: ecdsaKeyPair.signer(),
  cryptosuite: createSignCryptosuite({
    // require the `issuer` and `issuanceDate` fields to always be disclosed
    // by the holder (presenter)
    mandatoryPointers: [
      '/issuanceDate',
      '/issuer'
    ]
  })
});
// use a proof ID to enable it to be found and transformed into a disclosure
// proof by the holder later
const proofId = `urn:uuid:${uuid()}`;
suite.proof = {id: proofId};

const signedVC = await vc.issue({credential, suite, documentLoader});
console.log(JSON.stringify(signedVC, null, 2));

Issuing using bbs-2023:

import * as bbs2023Cryptosuite from '@digitalbazaar/bbs-2023-cryptosuite';
import * as bls12381Multikey from '@digitalbazaar/bls12-381-multikey';
import * as vc from '@digitalbazaar/vc';
import {DataIntegrityProof} from '@digitalbazaar/data-integrity';

const bbsKeyPair = await bls12381Multikey.generate({
  algorithm: 'BBS-BLS12-381-SHA-256';
  id: 'https://example.edu/issuers/keys/3',
  controller: 'https://example.edu/issuers/565049'
});

// sample exported key pair
/*
{
  "@context": "https://w3id.org/security/multikey/v1",
  "id": "https://example.edu/issuers/keys/3",
  "type": "Multikey",
  "controller": "https://example.edu/issuers/565049",
  "publicKeyMultibase": "zUC72jQrt2BfyE57AVgHgThKCsH6HNo85X9SLNpAJaHb42cNDXhsRWL2KkrFtaiztPbbZjfDVQnQQMw2nMqAPUHnaQ3xEr7kUmcnBgv7S2wQSbRbr7mqsP153nU7yMh3ZN4ZryL",
  "secretKeyMultibase": "z488y1niFCWnaV2i86q1raaa7qwBWZ6WTLeS1W1PrsbcsoNg"
}
*/

// sample unsigned credential
const credential = {
  "@context": [
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1",
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/examples/v1"
  ],
  // omit `id` to enable unlinkable disclosure
  "type": ["VerifiableCredential", "AlumniCredential"],
  "issuer": "https://example.edu/issuers/565049",
  // use less precise date that is shared by a sufficiently large group
  // of VCs to enable unlinkable disclosure
  "issuanceDate": "2010-01-01T01:00:00Z",
  "credentialSubject": {
    // omit `id` to enable unlinkable disclosure
    "alumniOf": "Example University"
  }
};

// setup bbs-2023 suite for signing unlinkable selective disclosure VCs
const suite = new DataIntegrityProof({
  signer: bbsKeyPair.signer(),
  cryptosuite: createSignCryptosuite({
    // require the `issuer` and `issuanceDate` fields to always be disclosed
    // by the holder (presenter)
    mandatoryPointers: [
      '/issuanceDate',
      '/issuer'
    ]
  })
});
// note: do not include a proof ID to enable unlinkable selective disclosure

const signedVC = await vc.issue({credential, suite, documentLoader});
console.log(JSON.stringify(signedVC, null, 2));

Deriving a Selective Disclosure Verifiable Credential

Note: This step is performed as a holder of a verifiable credential, not as an issuer.

Pre-requisites:

You have a verifiable credential that was issued using a cryptosuite that supports selective disclosure, such as ecdsa-sd-2023 or bbs-2023
If you're using a custom @context, make sure it's resolvable

Deriving using ecdsa-sd-2023:

import * as EcdsaMultikey from '@digitalbazaar/ecdsa-multikey';
import * as ecdsaSd2023Cryptosuite from
  '@digitalbazaar/ecdsa-sd-2023-cryptosuite';
import * as vc from '@digitalbazaar/vc';
import {DataIntegrityProof} from '@digitalbazaar/data-integrity';

const {
  createDiscloseCryptosuite,
  createSignCryptosuite,
  createVerifyCryptosuite
} = ecdsaSd2023Cryptosuite;

// sample VC
const verifiableCredential = {
  "@context": [
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1",
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/examples/v1",
    "https://w3id.org/security/data-integrity/v2"
  ],
  "id": "http://example.edu/credentials/1872",
  "type": [
    "VerifiableCredential",
    "AlumniCredential"
  ],
  "issuer": "https://example.edu/issuers/565049",
  "issuanceDate": "2010-01-01T19:23:24Z",
  "credentialSubject": {
    "id": "did:example:ebfeb1f712ebc6f1c276e12ec21",
    "alumniOf": "<span lang=\"en\">Example University</span>"
  },
  "proof": {
    "id": "urn:uuid:318d9dce-bc7b-40b9-a956-c9160bf910db",
    "type": "DataIntegrityProof",
    "created": "2024-01-12T21:53:11Z",
    "verificationMethod": "https://example.edu/issuers/keys/2",
    "cryptosuite": "ecdsa-sd-2023",
    "proofPurpose": "assertionMethod",
    "proofValue": "u2V0AhVhAsl6PQKYE15R0O5Qd267ntwHGNH6JRvZ1y8A-fTCQLUoupP8SCZzzmyc0a1AnabHEVKhpHtYV8j9Kapp-fHFBtFgjgCQCIMn2L1R7D5VPnNn_2foxdj8qvsuUTGFqA34YBkguzCpYILfJ-qNQpn6_dJGpkG24FynqbHpnzoHWVJc2kiLqEKHRglhAUmZtstR9MOLrZjcR8J303MXFvRiE6J3bbaPT1_I9-6578-Wj-eydv2TEGBq_dmsjxsOh4_2Va0etw8CXXMAzaVhA9fr7_Sl9D67AfvLhkJTZ0uJCAXcbL2MaS-DmoC7K-ABxroL1_wj119J8yTMlazxzYBwYkihrdp4ZWJZxraX9tIJtL2lzc3VhbmNlRGF0ZWcvaXNzdWVy"
  }
};

// note no `signer` needed; the selective disclosure credential will be
// derived from the base proof already provided by the issuer
const suite = new DataIntegrityProof({
  cryptosuite: createDiscloseCryptosuite({
    // the ID of the base proof to convert to a disclosure proof
    proofId: 'urn:uuid:da088899-3439-41ea-a580-af3f1cf98cd3',
    // selectively disclose the entire credential subject; different JSON
    // pointers could be provided to selectively disclose different information;
    // the issuer will have mandatory fields that will be automatically
    // disclosed such as the `issuer` and `issuanceDate` fields
    selectivePointers: [
      '/credentialSubject'
    ]
  })
});

const derivedVC = await vc.derive({
  verifiableCredential, suite, documentLoader
});
console.log(JSON.stringify(derivedVC, null, 2));

Deriving using bbs-2023:

import * as bbs2023Cryptosuite from '@digitalbazaar/bbs-2023-cryptosuite';
import * as bls12381Multikey from '@digitalbazaar/bls12-381-multikey';
import * as vc from '@digitalbazaar/vc';
import {DataIntegrityProof} from '@digitalbazaar/data-integrity';

const {
  createDiscloseCryptosuite,
  createSignCryptosuite,
  createVerifyCryptosuite
} = bbs2023Cryptosuite;

// sample VC
const verifiableCredential = {
  "@context": [
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1",
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/examples/v1",
    "https://w3id.org/security/data-integrity/v2"
  ],
  "type": [
    "VerifiableCredential",
    "AlumniCredential"
  ],
  "issuer": "https://example.edu/issuers/565049",
  "issuanceDate": "2010-01-01T01:00:00Z",
  "credentialSubject": {
    "alumniOf": "<span lang=\"en\">Example University</span>"
  },
  "proof": {
    "type": "DataIntegrityProof",
    "verificationMethod": "https://example.edu/issuers/keys/3",
    "cryptosuite": "bbs-2023",
    "proofPurpose": "assertionMethod",
    "proofValue": "u2V0ChVhQp1smqO-Qmc-1KpNkShjevTeylTdVlpH_RNXeJ_cNniErWPbEWILvsoH5mYjnun5ibZHq0m7BEIaLv8sfMtLfcmgPj6tbAFwDWvEcbRWg7CFYQGWqCAnvTpL_Aao3aVCg5svdzFuvKqnvneA0UwaN0lagvGpWT7fCDGgcYPyNPKaCX94Xo06aTcSwOXgyGUbtN1xYYIU6t5wv20lVdESfzkYOFXTxIZa1HSBAZYWDyEgQ3A3ajzWX5qeFc3cwmnnrGUfJYwawgGLQAY3vBi3LTM2i3jCOPvxCEJALPIjK4tEmWb6uFjT4PWLlIEeTtYj_0yEv91ggsm9vw1PPlK6q8wQiw2i2joZ-OKkvHz7rDSxPYfmQNrqCbS9pc3N1YW5jZURhdGVnL2lzc3Vlcg"
  }
};

// note no `signer` needed; the selective disclosure credential will be
// derived from the base proof already provided by the issuer
const suite = new DataIntegrityProof({
  cryptosuite: createDiscloseCryptosuite({
    // selectively disclose the entire credential subject; different JSON
    // pointers could be provided to selectively disclose different information;
    // the issuer will have mandatory fields that will be automatically
    // disclosed such as the `issuer` and `issuanceDate` fields
    selectivePointers: [
      '/credentialSubject'
    ]
  })
});

const derivedVC = await vc.derive({
  verifiableCredential, suite, documentLoader
});
console.log(JSON.stringify(derivedVC, null, 2));

Creating a Verifiable Presentation

Pre-requisites:

You have the requisite private keys (with id and controller) and corresponding suites
If you're using a custom @context, make sure it's resolvable
(Recommended) You have a strategy for where to publish your Controller Documents and Public Keys

Creating an unsigned presentation

To create a presentation out of one or more verifiable credentials, you can use the createPresentation() convenience function. Alternatively, you can create the presentation object manually (don't forget to set the @context and type properties).

To create a verifiable presentation with a custom @context field use a custom documentLoader

const verifiableCredential = [vc1, vc2]; // either array or single object

// optional `id` and `holder`
const id = 'ebc6f1c2';
const holder = 'did:ex:12345';

const presentation = vc.createPresentation({
  verifiableCredential, id, holder
});

console.log(JSON.stringify(presentation, null, 2));
// ->
{
  "@context": [
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1"
  ],
  "type": [
    "VerifiablePresentation"
  ],
  "id": "ebc6f1c2",
  "holder": "did:ex:12345",
  "verifiableCredential": [
    // vc1:
    {
      "@context": [
        "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1",
        "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/examples/v1"
      ],
      "id": "http://example.edu/credentials/1872",
      "type": [
        "VerifiableCredential",
        "AlumniCredential"
      ],
      "issuer": "https://example.edu/issuers/565049",
      "issuanceDate": "2010-01-01T19:23:24Z",
      "credentialSubject": {
        "id": "did:example:ebfeb1f712ebc6f1c276e12ec21",
        "alumniOf": "<span lang=\"en\">Example University</span>"
      },
      "proof": {
        "type": "Ed25519Signature2018",
        "created": "2020-02-03T17:23:49Z",
        "jws": "eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSIsImI2NCI6ZmFsc2UsImNyaXQiOlsiYjY0Il19..AUQ3AJ23WM5vMOWNtYKuqZBekRAOUibOMH9XuvOd39my1sO-X9R4QyAXLD2ospssLvIuwmQVhJa-F0xMOnkvBg",
        "proofPurpose": "assertionMethod",
        "verificationMethod": "https://example.edu/issuers/keys/1"
      }
    },
    // vc2 goes here ...
  ]
}

Note that this creates an unsigned presentation (which may be valid for some use cases).

Custom documentLoader

Pre-requisites:

You have an existing valid JSON-LD @context.
Your custom context is resolvable at an address.

// jsonld-signatures has a secure context loader
// by requiring this first you ensure security
// contexts are loaded from jsonld-signatures
// and not an insecure source.
import * as vc from '@digitalbazaar/vc';
const {extendContextLoader} = require('jsonld-signatures');
// @digitalbazaar/vc exports its own secure documentLoader.
const {defaultDocumentLoader} = vc;
// a valid json-ld @context.
const myCustomContext = require('./myCustomContext');

const documentLoader = extendContextLoader(async url => {
  if(url === 'did:test:context:foo') {
    return {
      contextUrl: null,
      documentUrl: url,
      document: myCustomContext
    };
  }
  return defaultDocumentLoader(url);
});

// you can now use your custom documentLoader
// with multiple vc methods such as:

const vp = await vc.signPresentation({
  presentation, suite, challenge, documentLoader
});

// or
const signedVC = await vc.issue({credential, suite, documentLoader});

// or
const result = await vc.verifyCredential({credential: signedVC, suite, documentLoader});

Signing the Presentation

Once you've created the presentation (either via createPresentation() or manually), you can sign it using signPresentation():

import * as vc from '@digitalbazaar/vc';

const vp = await vc.signPresentation({
  presentation, suite, challenge, documentLoader
});

console.log(JSON.stringify(vp, null, 2));
// ->
{
  "@context": [
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1"
  ],
  "type": [
    "VerifiablePresentation"
  ],
  "verifiableCredential": [
    {
      "@context": [
        "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1",
        "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/examples/v1"
      ],
      "id": "http://example.edu/credentials/1872",
      "type": [
        "VerifiableCredential",
        "AlumniCredential"
      ],
      "issuer": "https://example.edu/issuers/565049",
      "issuanceDate": "2010-01-01T19:23:24Z",
      "credentialSubject": {
        "id": "did:example:ebfeb1f712ebc6f1c276e12ec21",
        "alumniOf": "<span lang=\"en\">Example University</span>"
      },
      "proof": {
        "type": "Ed25519Signature2018",
        "created": "2020-02-03T17:23:49Z",
        "jws": "eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSIsImI2NCI6ZmFsc2UsImNyaXQiOlsiYjY0Il19..AUQ3AJ23WM5vMOWNtYKuqZBekRAOUibOMH9XuvOd39my1sO-X9R4QyAXLD2ospssLvIuwmQVhJa-F0xMOnkvBg",
        "proofPurpose": "assertionMethod",
        "verificationMethod": "https://example.edu/issuers/keys/1"
      }
    }
  ],
  "id": "ebc6f1c2",
  "holder": "did:ex:holder123",
  "proof": {
    "type": "Ed25519Signature2018",
    "created": "2019-02-03T17:23:49Z",
    "challenge": "12ec21",
    "jws": "eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSIsImI2NCI6ZmFsc2UsImNyaXQiOlsiYjY0Il19..ZO4Lkq8-fOruE4oUvuMaxepGX-vLD2gPyNIsz-iA7X0tzC3_96djaBYDxxl6wD1xKrx0h60NjI9i9p_MxoXkDQ",
    "proofPurpose": "authentication",
    "verificationMethod": "https://example.edu/issuers/keys/1"
  }
}

Verifying a Verifiable Presentation

Pre-requisites:

Your custom @contexts, verification methods (like public keys) and their corresponding controller documents are reachable via a documentLoader.

To verify a verifiable presentation:

import * as vc from '@digitalbazaar/vc';

// challenge has been received from the requesting party - see 'challenge'
// section below

const result = await vc.verify({presentation, challenge, suite, documentLoader});
// {valid: true}

By default, verify() will throw an error if the proof section is missing. To verify an unsigned presentation, you must set the unsignedPresentation flag:

import * as vc from '@digitalbazaar/vc';

const result = await vc.verify({
  presentation, suite, documentLoader, unsignedPresentation: true
});
// {valid: true}

`challenge` parameter

Verifiable Presentations are typically used for authentication purposes. A challenge param (similar to a nonce in OAuth2/OpenID Connect) is provided by the party that's receiving the VP, and serves to prevent presentation replay attacks. The workflow is:

Receiving party asks for the VerifiablePresentation, and provides a challenge parameter.
The client code creating the VP passes in that challenge (from the requesting party), and it gets included in the VP.
The client code passes the VP to the receiving party, which then checks to make sure the challenge is the same as the one it provided in the request in 1).

Verifying a Verifiable Credential

For most situations, Verifiable Credentials will be wrapped in a Verifiable Presentation and the entire VP should be verified. However, this library provides a utility function to verify a Verifiable Credential on its own.

Pre-requisites:

Your custom @contexts, verification methods (like public keys) and their corresponding controller documents are reachable via a documentLoader.

To verify a verifiable credential:

const result = await vc.verifyCredential({credential, suite, documentLoader});
// {valid: true}

To verify a selective disclosure verifiable credential ensure the suite supports it, for example:

import * as ecdsaSd2023Cryptosuite from
  '@digitalbazaar/ecdsa-sd-2023-cryptosuite';
import {DataIntegrityProof} from '@digitalbazaar/data-integrity';

const {
  createDiscloseCryptosuite,
  createSignCryptosuite,
  createVerifyCryptosuite
} = ecdsaSd2023Cryptosuite;

const suite = new DataIntegrityProof({
  cryptosuite: createVerifyCryptosuite()
});
const result = await vc.verifyCredential({credential, suite, documentLoader});
// {valid: true}

To verify a verifiable credential with a custom @context field use a custom documentLoader

CLI

To use on the command line, see vc-js-cli.

Testing

To run Mocha tests:

npm run test-node

To run Karma (in-browser) tests:

npm run test-karma

Contribute

See the contribute file!

PRs accepted.

Note: If editing the Readme, please conform to the standard-readme specification.

Commercial Support

Commercial support for this library is available upon request from Digital Bazaar: support@digitalbazaar.com

Awesome

Verifiable Credentials JS Library (@digitalbazaar/vc)

Table of Contents

Security

Background

Install

Usage

Setting up a signature suite

Issuing a Verifiable Credential

Issuing a Selective Disclosure Verifiable Credential

Deriving a Selective Disclosure Verifiable Credential

Creating a Verifiable Presentation

Creating an unsigned presentation

Custom documentLoader

Signing the Presentation

Verifying a Verifiable Presentation

challenge parameter

Verifying a Verifiable Credential

CLI

Testing

Contribute

Commercial Support

License

`challenge` parameter