How Open Badges 3.0 supports verification
An Open Badge is more than an image. It is a structured credential containing information about the issuer, recipient, achievement criteria, and relevant dates. Newly issued GrokCred credentials use the signed Open Badges 3.0 format.
A digital signature makes later changes to signed achievement data detectable. GrokCred also provides a readable public credential page, allowing a reviewer to inspect the details and current status without relying on the badge image alone.
What makes a badge verifiable?
- Signed credential data — compatible systems can check whether the signed achievement data has changed after issuance.
- Inspectable metadata — issuer identity, criteria, and dates are available as structured information rather than hidden behind artwork.
- Privacy-aware recipient identity — GrokCred represents the recipient email with a salted hash instead of publishing it.
- Current status — a revoked credential displays a clear notice on its public page.
A practical badge-verification checklist
- Confirm the issuer — identify the organization that granted the credential and make sure it matches the claim being made.
- Read the criteria — look for specific requirements describing what the learner completed or demonstrated.
- Check the dates — review when the badge was issued and whether it has an expiration date.
- Check the status — look for expiry, revocation, or other notices before treating the credential as active.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a badge is fake?
A copied badge image proves very little by itself. Follow the credential link, compare its issuer, criteria, recipient, and dates with the claim, and check its current status. Without an inspectable record behind the image, treat it as unverified.
Does a reviewer need a GrokCred account?
No. Anyone with the public credential link can review the achievement details and status without creating an account or signing in.
What happens if a credential is revoked?
The public credential page displays a revocation notice, and the credential is excluded from GrokCred's public credential sitemap.
Can compatible systems inspect the signed data?
Yes. Newly issued credentials provide signed Open Badges 3.0 data that compatible systems can read and validate.
Keep reading
- Digital badges — what digital badges are and how they are issued.
- Open Badges 3.0 — how the signed format differs from historical Open Badges 2.0 credentials.
- Open Badges vs PDF certificates — compare inspectable credential data with static documents.