About World
Learn more information about the World Project.
About World
What is World?
World is an open-source protocol, supported by a global community of developers, individuals, economists, and technologists committed to expanding participation in, and access to, the global economy.
Who Owns World?
The World Foundation is the steward, and will support and grow the World community until it becomes self-sufficient. Tools for Humanity helped launch World, and currently serve as advisors to the Foundation and operators of World ID app.
Understanding the World Ecosystem
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World ID
A privacy-preserving way to prove things about yourself online, such as that you’re a unique human (Proof of Human), present in the moment (Proof of Presence), or have specific attributes like age or nationality (Proof of Attributes), without revealing unnecessary personal information. -
Worldcoin (WLD)
The first token to be globally and freely distributed to people just for being a unique individual. -
World Money
An app that enables payment, purchases, and transfers globally using the Worldcoin token, digital assets, and traditional currencies. -
World ID app
A standalone app for World ID used to manage your World ID Proofs and prove things about yourself to sign in/authenticate with partner apps.
Learn more on our blog.
Translations may differ slightly from the original English content. For the most accurate information, please refer to the article's English version if any discrepancies occur.
About World
What is World ID?
World ID is a privacy-first decentralized protocol. This means it can be used as a digital passport that can prove you are a unique and real person, without sharing personal data like names and emails.
With World ID, you can sign in to web, mobile, and decentralized apps, and privately use your World ID Proofs when an app asks you to prove something about yourself.
If you’ve claimed Proof of Human by verifying at an Orb, or claimed Proof of Attributes by adding a supported passport or national ID, you have World ID Proofs. You can find them in the Credentials tab in World ID app.
For more information on World ID, check out our website and our blog.
Translations may differ slightly from the original English content. For the most accurate information, please refer to the article's English version if any discrepancies occur.
About World
How does the Orb work?
The Orb captures and processes photos to verify you're a unique human — without keeping your images. It takes pictures of your face and eyes, then encrypts the package and sends it to your phone, where only you control it by default.
From those photos, the Orb also generates permanently encrypted codes that are stored across secure databases. These codes are what stop anyone from verifying twice. They're processed using secure multi-party computation (SMPC), meaning no single party ever holds the complete data.
Will the Orb hurt my eyes?
No. The Orb is completely safe and will not harm your eyes.
The Orb is built to comply with international eye-safety standards, including IEC 62471, the technical standard for the safety of imaging products that use light. As World updates the technology used to verify uniqueness and personhood, safety and privacy stay at the centre of every change.
What happens to the images taken by the Orb?
The Orb is used to verify a person's humanness and uniqueness as part of the World ID protocol. Here's the flow, end to end:
- Liveness check — The Orb first confirms there's a real human standing in front of it.
- Image processing — The eye photos are abstracted and permanently encrypted into anonymous fragments. Independent parties process those fragments via SMPC to confirm your uniqueness.
- Packaging & transfer — All photos and photo derivatives are encrypted and "signed" by the Orb to guarantee authenticity, then sent to your phone via the Orb's backend server.
- Backend can't see your data — The backend that relays the package to your phone cannot decrypt it. Only your phone can.
- Originals deleted — The Orb deletes the captured images immediately after processing.
To learn more about the Orb, please visit our Orb Frequently Asked Questions blog post.
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About World
Understanding biometrics and their use by World
Why does the World Network need biometrics to verify I’m human?
Biometrics are the most accurate way to prove that someone is a unique, living human being. When acquired and used in a responsible and privacy-preserving way, biometrics can be a powerful and inclusive tool—one that empowers individuals to take ownership of their identity and keeps our goods and institutions secure.
You’ve probably already encountered this when unlocking your phone with your face or fingerprint, boarding certain flights with a biometric passport, accessing sporting or music events, or registering to vote in particular countries. Biometrics can also be instrumental in providing digital identity to the 4.4 billion people worldwide who either don’t have a legal identity or have one that can’t be digitally verified. This is a major stumbling block when it comes to accessing financial services—a stumbling block that World is attempting to solve.
Why does World use iris biometrics?
Not all biometrics are the same, and their utility can vary widely based on things like entropy and reliability at scale. Iris biometrics are also particularly well-suited to the project because of their privacy preserving nature. Specifically, because irises have more random unique details than fingerprints and faces and are less susceptible to change based on external factors, iris biometrics were identified as the most privacy-preserving and fraud-resistant way to verify personhood and uniqueness. Further, it is much easier to steal and fake someone’s fingerprint than it is to steal someone’s iris pattern.
Because commercially available iris imaging devices did not meet our technology and security needs, our team had to create our own. While approaches such as KYC and fingerprint scanning have limitations, our proprietary Orb technology enables World to establish the most inclusive digital identity and financial network for millions of individuals. Verifying uniqueness through the iris is the most inclusive solution for users around the globe.
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About World
What's the Difference between World ID app and World Money?
World's identity and money features are now split across two dedicated apps.
World ID app is your identity app. Use it to get verified as a real human, manage your World ID Proofs, and unlock partner experiences and rewards available to verified humans.
World Money is your money app. Use it for wallet-style features like sending and receiving funds and other finance-related actions.
| App | Purpose | Usage |
| World ID app | Identity & verification | Prove you're human, manage Proofs, access human-only benefit |
| World Money | Money & wallet | Send, receive, and manage crypto and other financial features |
Feature Availability per App
| Supported Features | World ID app | World Money |
| Orb verification | ✓ | ✓ (for a limited time) |
| World ID Proofs | ✓ Proof of Attributes (passport, national ID), Proof of Human (Orb) | ✗ |
| World ID Rewards | ✓ For Humans tab | ✗ |
| Crypto wallet | ✗ | ✓ |
| WLD send/receive | ✗ (view balance only) | ✓ |
| Virtual bank account | ✗ | ✓ |
Do I need a new account to use World ID app?
No. If you already use World Money, installing World ID app doesn't require a new account. You'll sign in with your existing World ID — the two apps share the same identity underneath, and your verification and World ID Proofs carry over instantly.
Can I keep using World Money?
Yes. Both apps run in parallel. World Money continues to handle all wallet and crypto features, and nothing about your existing account or verification changes.
If you need to do something that isn't available in World ID app, like send WLD or use your virtual bank account, open World Money.
What's in the World ID app?
The World ID app is organized into three main tabs, each serving a distinct purpose:
Credentials tab
The Credentials tab shows the World ID Proofs stored securely on your device and is the starting point for verifying Proofs with World ID.
What you'll see:
- Your World ID status: a prompt to get verified ("Prove you're human, fully privately") with quick-action buttons to Get verified or Explore all
- Actions available to verified humans: including unlocking human-only actions, accessing human rewards, and earning a verified human badge
Learn about World ID: educational cards explaining what World ID is and how to get verified, plus a World ID Privacy section
For Humans tab
The For Humans tab highlights exclusive benefits, integrations, and rewards available to World ID-verified users, where available.
- Featured integrations: Tinder ("Date with real humans"), Zoom ("Meetings without deepfakes")
- World ID Rewards: earn points and explore available rewards
- World ID for consumers: Earn Razer Gold, Get 5 free boosts on Tinder, Concerts for real fans on World Music
- World ID for agents: Meetings without deepfakes (Zoom), AI agent auth (Browserbase), Free agent search (Era), Proof of Human APIs (Okta)
- Mini Apps: Invite friends and earn, Unique Humans, Discounts around you, Verify humanness offline
Tapping any integration opens a detail page showing what it unlocks, a preview, what's shared (Proof of Human only), what's not shared (Orb image, face photo), and partner info.
Notifications tab
The Notifications tab keeps you up to date on activity related to your World ID. Notifications are grouped by time, such as Today and This week, and can include:
- Verification requests from connected apps (for example, when someone wants to verify you in another app)
- Announcements about new World ID features
If push notifications aren't turned on, you'll see an option at the top of the tab to enable them so you don't miss important updates. You can also manage push notifications in Settings.
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About World
How can I check the status of World ID app and its features?
World ID app may encounter occasional issues resulting in certain features being temporarily unavailable. To stay informed about the status of World ID app and its specific features like Account Creation and World ID Rewards, please visit the dedicated status page.
By accessing the status page, you can obtain real-time updates on any ongoing service disruptions or maintenance activities. This will help you stay informed about the current operational status of World ID app. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding.
For more detailed information regarding the status of World services, please visit https://status.world.org.
Translations may differ slightly from the original English content. For the most accurate information, please refer to the article's English version if any discrepancies occur.
About World
Glossary of Terms
Account Takeover (also: ATO)
Unauthorized access to a user's account.
Age Verification (also: AV, age block)
A process that confirms a user meets the minimum age requirement to access certain features or complete verification. Users who do not meet the age threshold may be prompted to verify their age before proceeding.
Agentic AI
AI that can take actions on your behalf, like browsing the web, making reservations, or completing tasks automatically. World ID helps verify that these AI actions are backed by a real, unique human, protecting platforms from bots and unauthorized automated activity.
AI (also: Artificial Intelligence)
Technology that enables computers to perform tasks that typically require human thinking, like recognizing patterns, understanding language, or making decisions. World ID is an anonymous Proof of Human for the age of AI, helping platforms tell the difference between real people and bots.
AMPC (also: Anonymized Multi-Party Computation)
Anonymized Multi-Party Computation — a cryptographic technique used to process biometric data across multiple parties without any single party having access to the full data. Used by World to enhance privacy during verification.
Authentication certificate (also: certificate)
What another participant sees when they select the Human Badge next to your name in a Zoom meeting. It confirms your World ID for Zoom authentication and shows when you authenticated and how long it stays valid. Viewing it requires the World ID for Zoom app running in that participant's Zoom client.
Authentication frequency
How often participants are asked to complete World ID for Zoom authentication again before their Human Badge stops being shown. Set for the whole organization by an administrator, in the portal's Integrations settings.
Backup (also: Back up, recovery setup)
A login method set up to secure and restore access to your account. Supported options include Passkey, Google sign-in, and Apple sign-in. Setting up at least one is strongly recommended — without it, account recovery may not be possible.
Bug report (also: Report an issue)
What you send when you use Report an issue in the World ID for Zoom panel to tell us something went wrong. You describe the problem and confirm you agree to share the report and related verification data with Tools for Humanity. It gives support the technical detail behind a failed authentication. It is evidence rather than a support ticket, so submitting one does not open a case or produce a reply.
Compliance Standards
A set of rules, regulations, and guidelines that ensure an organization operates lawfully and ethically.
Compliance Standards Framework
An agreement that stipulates punishable offenses and penalties associated with violations
data privacy
The practice of safeguarding personal or sensitive data, ensuring compliance with privacy laws, and giving users control over their information.
deepfake
A synthetic media, usually video or audio, created using artificial intelligence to impersonate real people, often for deceptive or manipulative purposes.
DPA (also: Data Privacy Authority)
Government or regulatory authority related to data privacy matters.
Face Authentication (also: Face Auth)
A security step that matches a selfie to encrypted data stored on the user's device, confirming the person using the World ID is the same person who verified.
Gimbal
The circular mirror at the center of the Orb that moves to align with a person's eyes.
Human Badge
An indicator that a person has Proof of Human in their World ID. It can appear in World ID app and on accounts connected to a person’s World ID. In meetings that use World ID for Zoom, the Human Badge may appear on a participant’s video tile after successful authentication.
Login method (also: Log in, sign-in method)
The way a user signs in and restores access to their account. Supported options include Passkey, Google sign-in, and Apple sign-in. Setting up at least one login method is strongly recommended to ensure account recovery is possible.
NFC-enabled ID (also: NFC)
A government-issued identity document such as a passport or national ID with an NFC chip that can be used to claim a Proof of Attributes, without sharing data with third parties.
Occlusion
A condition during Orb verification where something partially blocks or obscures the user's iris, preventing a successful scan. This can be caused by physical characteristics, eyelashes, reflections, or other factors that interfere with the Orb's ability to capture a clear iris image. Users experiencing occlusion may need to reposition or seek assistance from an Orb operator.
Onboarding (also: Account creation, signup, new user)
The initial journey a new user takes when setting up their account, including downloading World ID app, creating an account, and claiming World ID Proofs
One Human: One Account
The principle that each verified World ID is tied to a unique real person preventing duplicate accounts and bot abuse across the network.
Orb (also: Orb device)
A device that verifies you are a unique human. The Orb cryptographically processes images of your face and eyes, without knowing anything else about you.
Orb Verification
The process of verifying in person at an Orb to claim Proof of Human, World ID’s highest-assurance Proof
passkey (also: Passkeys)
Passwordless authentication method that allows users to sign in to apps or websites using cryptographic keys instead of traditional passwords.
PCP (also: Personal custody package)
Encrypted biometric data stored locally on the user's device. Not stored by the World team.
Private by Design
Private by design refers to the practice of integrating privacy and data protection principles into the design and development of products, services, and business practices, ensuring that privacy is preserved throughout the entire data lifecycle.
Proof of Attributes
Proves specific attributes from your government credentials like age or nationality, without revealing anything else.
Proof of Human
Proves you’re a unique human. The highest level of assurance, backed by encrypted and anonymous hardware verification (the Orb)
Proof of Ownership
An encoded value tied to a user's World ID that confirms a specific person controls a specific World ID account. Can be shared with support or trusted third parties to verify account ownership without revealing personal information.
Proof of Presence
Proves you’re present with just a selfie. The entire process is privacy-preserving and happens on your mobile device.
QR Code
A two-dimensional barcode that can be scanned using a smartphone or other devices to quickly access information, links, or services.
ReAuth (also: World ID Re-Authentication, Reauthentication)
Reauthentication flow where a user visits an Orb to refresh their on-device encrypted package to continue using World ID features.
Relying Party (also: RP)
An app, platform, or service that accepts World ID Proofs and decides which Proofs are required for its use case
Single sign-on (also: SSO)
The sign-in method for the World Enterprise Portal. Administrators sign in through their organization's identity provider. There is no separate portal password.
Support Team
The team responsible for handling user inquiries, troubleshooting issues, and providing assistance across related products. Users can reach the Support Team directly through the in-app support channel.
Sybil Resistance
The ability of a system to prevent a single person from creating multiple fake accounts or identities. World ID achieves this through its one-human one-account verification model.
Three-way match
The check behind an authentication. Compares the images captured at the Orb, a live selfie, and live frames from the Zoom call.
Tools For Humanity
The technology company that builds and contributes to World, including products and infrastructure such as World ID, World ID app, World Money, World Chain, and the Orb. Tools for Humanity develops technology that helps people prove they are human online and access digital financial tools.
World Enterprise Portal
The web application where an organization's IT administrators manage their World ID deployment.
World ID (also: WorldID)
A privacy-preserving way to prove things about yourself online, such as that you’re a unique human, present in the moment, or have specific attributes like age or nationality. World ID lets you claim and use World ID Proofs without revealing unnecessary personal information.
World ID for Zoom
The integration that confirms a Zoom participant is the real, verified person their account says they are, during a live call.
World ID Proofs (also: Proofs)
World ID Proofs are things you can prove about yourself with World ID, without revealing unnecessary personal information. This could be Proof of Human, Proof of Presence, and Proof of Attributes.
World Network
The global network of verified users and participants built on World ID.
ZKP (also: Zero-Knowledge Proof)
Zero-Knowledge Proof. A cryptographic method that allows a user to prove something is true (such as being a verified human) without revealing any underlying personal data.