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validation-states.adoc — Replaced the single-paragraph description with a full four-state model. The new "Validation incomplete" state sits between Well-formed and Revoked, maps to the spec's cawg.identity.network_traffic_blocked status code, uses a neutral informational indicator (same as Well-formed), and includes a secondary explanation for implementers to display alongside the label. verification-indicators.adoc — Updated the icon list and status label table to include all four states. Updated the warning states section to explicitly note that neither Well-formed nor Validation incomplete should be styled as a warning. version-history.adoc — Added a dated entry summarizing the four-state model addition.
mrappard
commented
Jul 7, 2026
grinstead
reviewed
Aug 4, 2026
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| Display using a neutral informational indicator. | ||
| A Well-formed assertion must not receive a checkmark or any indicator that implies the issuer has been trusted. | ||
| A Well-formed assertion is not a failure — do not display it as a warning or error. |
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I would add something along the lines here of "An unrecognized issuer has no proven standards, and so could present itself with whatever name it wants such as US Government. Therefore, the display should be hesitant to show any fields from the issuer without a sufficient warning."
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Summary
Motivation
The previous guidance described validation as a failure/success binary with no handling for the case where validation simply could not be completed. This gap is significant because some credential types — particularly those using DID-based issuers or bitstring revocation lists — require network calls to validate fully. In environments where outbound traffic is restricted (air-gapped systems, enterprise proxies, offline viewers), an otherwise legitimate credential would have no appropriate state to fall into. Displaying it as "invalid" or using a warning indicator would misrepresent the situation and cast unwarranted doubt on the named actor.
The four-state model also lays the foundation for the three-state model introduced in prior issues (Trusted, Well-formed, Revoked) by formalizing all outcomes in one place.
Review notes - Validation incomplete shares the same neutral informational indicator as Well-formed. Ris the right visual treatment, or whether a distinct icon (for example, a clock or network symbol) would better communicate the specific reason validation could not be completed.