# The essentials of decentralized identity

By [Untitled](https://paragraph.com/@0x684f658ff0006d40ceb7657edc9a469f1ad029d6) · 2021-12-29

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In a world of decentralized apps, we no longer trust third parties, but we still need to verify someone's identity before a smart contract can be executed. One solution is to have a separate identity product. This identity product needs to meet four basic characteristics:

1.An identity has some kind of unique identity. (The best architecture for storing such identifiers is the namespace that satisfies the Zooko triangle described above.)

2.Third parties can claim (register) information about an identity. Declarations include names, addresses, email addresses, etc.

3.The ability to request user authentication in some way.

4.There is some way to query a claim about an identity.

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*Originally published on [Untitled](https://paragraph.com/@0x684f658ff0006d40ceb7657edc9a469f1ad029d6/the-essentials-of-decentralized-identity)*
