Summary

Recommendation ITU-T X.1252 provides definitions of key terms used in identity management (IdM). The terms are drawn from many sources but all are believed to be in common use in IdM work. This Recommendation is not intended to be a huge compendium of IdM-related terms. Instead, the terms defined here are limited to those considered to constitute a baseline list of the most important and commonly-used IdM-specific terms. This Recommendation includes Annex A that explains the rationale for some of these key terms.

One of the main objectives of this Recommendation is to promote a common understanding of these terms among the groups currently developing (or planning to develop) IdM-related standards. The definitions are constructed so that, as far as possible, they are independent of implementations or specific context and, therefore, should be suitable as baseline definitions for any IdM work. It is acknowledged that, in some instances and contexts, greater detail may be required for a particular term, in which case, elaboration of the baseline definition may be considered.