Talk:Credential

Forms of credentials

Why Creative Commons codes, Software Keys, DRM and Passwords are forms of credentials used on computers is not apparent to me and at least requires additional explanation. Also sometimes certificates are referred to as credentials. All of this is also in conflict with the use of the therm Digital Credential or Anonymous Credential in cryptography.

--Markulf 18:36, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Identity

A credential is a proof of qualification, competence, or clearance...

Would it also be proper to add "identity," as later on in the article, passwords and such are mentioned? My perception is examples of the primary meaning are diplomas, degrees, and certificates, with a secondary meaning of the codes needed for identification and access. I'm not sure that's adequately covered by "clearance." Joe 11:33, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

The singular "credential"

Based on several decades experience in copyediting, I can't recall ever having seen "credential" used in the singular. It's always "credentials." This sounds like a neologistic biz-speak back-formation. --Michael K Smith^Talk 15:04, 18 December 2012 (UTC)

According to OED online, the singular is in use, though the plural is "the more usual form". Nurg (talk) 03:29, 2 November 2016 (UTC)

article should be split

This article should be split into two new articles:
Credential (knowledge)
Credential (identity management)

The current version of this article conflates two different meanings of "credential". It contains a mixture of information about two unrelated topics.

The word "credential" has two different meanings (for two unrelated concepts). The meaning depends on the context in which the word is used. It is illogical to use the word in multiple contexts simultaneously.

--Fuzzform (talk) 18:23, 8 December 2019 (UTC)

• I agree that the concepts of proving what you know how to do and proving who you are are different but there is at least some cross-over so I would start with creating a couple of sections on this page and grouping things together and seeing how the page develops.Gusfriend (talk) 07:50, 5 February 2022 (UTC)