What a PAR authentication means.

Which objects, identities, communications, products or events may be authenticated.

The action that creates the PAR reference and records the relevant evidentiary metadata.

How the person or organization performing the action is represented and, where relevant, authorized.

How the authenticated digital item or claim is distinguished from other items.

Timestamp and any permitted contextual metadata connected to the authentication event.

The reference generated so the authentication can later be checked.

How revocation, reporting, expiration or other status changes should be represented.

Authentication proves the recorded event and evidence within scope; it should not be described as proving facts outside that scope.