> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.attest.so/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How It Works

> Architecture overview of AttestProtocol

## Four Actors

```
┌──────────┐    ┌──────────┐    ┌──────────┐    ┌──────────┐
│  Issuer  │───▶│ Protocol │───▶│  Holder  │◀───│ Verifier │
└──────────┘    └──────────┘    └──────────┘    └──────────┘
     │                │                              │
     │  Creates       │  Stores                      │  Queries
     │  schemas &     │  attestations                │  & validates
     │  attestations  │  on-chain                    │
```

**Issuer**: Creates schemas and issues attestations (e.g., KYC provider)

**Protocol**: On-chain smart contract storing attestations

**Holder**: Receives attestations linked to their address

**Verifier**: Queries and validates attestations

## Attestation Flow

1. **Schema Creation** - Issuer defines data structure
2. **Attestation** - Issuer creates signed claim about a subject
3. **Storage** - Protocol stores attestation on-chain
4. **Verification** - Anyone can query and verify

## Key Features

### BLS Delegation

Sign attestations off-chain, submit on-chain. The submitter pays gas, not the attester.

### Economic Security

Authority registration requires stake, preventing Sybil attacks.

### Resolvers

Optional validation logic before attestations are stored (e.g., payment verification).

## Contract Architecture

**Protocol Contract**: Core attestation engine

* Schema registration
* Attestation creation/revocation
* BLS signature verification

**Authority Contract**: Trust management

* Authority registration with payment
* Resolver interface for custom validation

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Quickstart" icon="rocket" href="/quickstart">
    Create your first attestation
  </Card>

  <Card title="Schemas" icon="cube" href="/concepts/schemas">
    Learn about schema design
  </Card>
</CardGroup>