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Note: The following is an excerpt from the W3C site. It is provided here as a convenience and is not authoritative. Refer to the original document as the authoritative reference.

Note: This specification is under active development; implementers are advised against implementing the specification unless they are directly involved with the W3C DID Working Group.

Decentralized identifiers (DIDs) are a new type of identifier that enables verifiable, decentralized digital identity. A DID identifies any subject (e.g., a person, organization, thing, data model, abstract entity, etc.) that the controller of the DID decides that it identifies. These new identifiers are designed to enable the controller of a DID to prove control over it and to be implemented independently of any centralized registry, identity provider, or certificate authority. DIDs are URLs that associate a DID subject with a DID document allowing trustable interactions associated with that subject. Each DID document can express cryptographic material, verification methods, or service endpoints, which provide a set of mechanisms enabling a DID controller to prove control of the DID. Service endpoints enable trusted interactions associated with the DID subject. A DID document might contain semantics about the subject that it identifies. A DID document might contain the DID subject itself (e.g. a data model).

This document specifies a common data model, a URL format, and a set of operations for DIDs, DID documents, and DID methods.

[char]need to expand to include content from spec intro that specifically relates the DID to DLT and Blockchain technology.