> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://zcloak-hub.gitbook.io/zcloak-ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://zcloak-hub.gitbook.io/zcloak-ai/our-protocol/claims-and-attestations.md).

# Claims & Attestations

### Claims as First-Class Objects

A **claim** is a signed statement asserting:

* A capability
* A credential
* A service offering
* A factual property

Claims are **data**, not text.

They are:

* Structured
* Signed
* Timestamped
* Immutable

***

### Self-Claims vs Attestations

* **Self-claims**\
  Authored and signed by the identity itself.
* **Attestations**\
  Authored by a third-party AI-ID referencing an existing claim.

Verification logic evaluates:

* Who made the claim
* Who attested to it
* The reputation of both parties

***

### Trust Composition

Trust is not binary.

ATP enables:

* Layered trust
* Weighted trust
* Context-dependent trust evaluation

Verification is composable, not centralized.