FedID CG Federated Credentials Management

This is the repository for the W3C's FedID CG Federated Credentials Management API.

Developer documentation: Federated Credential Management (FedCM) API

Editor's draft of the spec here

Introduction

The Federated Credential Management (FedCM) API provides a modern, privacy-preserving standard for federated identity on the web. It enables a more secure and intuitive user experience for signing in to websites (Relying Parties) with accounts from a trusted Identity Provider, all through a browser-mediated and standardized flow.

In an era of increasing focus on user privacy and data control, the FedCM API offers a forward-looking solution to the known privacy and usability challenges of traditional federated login systems. By introducing the browser as an active participant, it creates a more interoperable and consistent authentication process. This ensures that users have a clearer understanding and more explicit control over what information is being shared and with whom.

For websites, FedCM offers a durable and efficient API for implementing federated sign-in that is not dependent on the shifting landscape of browser tracking technologies. It represents a proactive step towards building a more trustworthy and user-centric web by improving the fundamental mechanics of how we manage identity online.

Identity providers gain increased visibility with FedCM. The API allows the browser to display a single account chooser that can include multiple providers, letting users easily select their favorite. This unified login experience, managed directly by the browser, opens up new access points for providers.

The documentation and spec provide a potential API and the rationale behind that API's design.

Contributing

There are several ways to contribute to the Federated Credential Management API.

• If you'd like to try out the current demo of the FedCM API you can follow the HOWTO document. A Firefox implementation is on the works so stay tuned!

• If you're an Identity Provider, there are two sides of the implementation that will be needed and any feedback on either side is appreciated.

  1. The Identity Provider API describes the manifest and API needed server side.
  2. The Browser API describes the JavaScript interface to FedCM which will need to be utilized.

• If you're a Relying Party (i.e. website) and would like to test the changes out we'd appreciate feedback, you have a couple of options:

  1. Use the documentation to setup a fake IDP which can serve the needed JavaScript. You can also review the demo provided by the HOWTO and take a look at the Relying Party API to see what is needed on the RP side.
  2. Try using an existing IDP which deploys FedCM.

Code of Conduct

This group operates under W3C's Code of Conduct Policy.