OID4VP (OpenID for Verifiable Presentations) is a protocol that defines how verifiable digital credentials are presented from a holder's wallet to a verifier. Developed by the OpenID Foundation, it extends the familiar OAuth2 and OpenID Connect standards, the same infrastructure that handles billions of secure logins every day, to support privacy-preserving credential presentation.
What problem does OID4VP solve?
When someone needs to prove something about themselves online, their age, residency, professional license, there needs to be a standardized way for the verifier to request specific attributes and for the wallet to respond securely. OID4VP provides this standard protocol.
Without a common presentation protocol, every verifier would need custom integrations with every wallet. OID4VP establishes a universal interface, allowing any conforming wallet to present credentials to any conforming verifier.
How does OID4VP work?
In an OID4VP flow, the verifier specifies the credential attributes it needs through a "presentation definition." The holder's wallet displays this request, allowing the user to approve what will be shared. The wallet then generates a "verifiable presentation," a cryptographically signed response containing only the requested attributes.
The verifier receives the presentation and verifies cryptographic proofs according to the credential format and presentation protocol, which may include issuer signatures, holder binding, and disclosure proofs. The holder maintains control over what's shared, and the verifier gets cryptographic assurance of authenticity.
Relationship to OID4VCI
OID4VP works in conjunction with OID4VCI (OpenID for Verifiable Credential Issuance). While OID4VCI defines how credentials are issued from an issuer to a holder's wallet, OID4VP defines how those credentials are presented from the wallet to a verifier. Together, they cover the complete credential lifecycle from issuance through presentation.
Why enterprise adoption matters
By reusing OAuth2 and OpenID Connect, standards already implemented across virtually every enterprise identity system, OID4VP makes adoption easier for developers and organizations. Existing infrastructure can be extended rather than replaced. This pragmatic approach accelerates the deployment of verifiable credential systems.
OID4VP enables verifiers to request only necessary attributes through Presentation Definitions, ensuring minimal disclosure. It supports selective disclosure and privacy-preserving presentation, allowing holders to control the information they share.
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