World ID

Verification Levels

The World ID Protocol supports multiple levels of verification, each with a different level of assurance that the user is a unique human.

Available Verification Levels

This list will continue to grow as more verification levels are supported for proof of personhood in the World ID Protocol.

Verification Level	Description	Humanness Level	Availability
Device	Unique device check.	Medium	CLOUD
Orb	Biometric verification, uniqueness through iris (details).	Strong	ON-CHAINCLOUD
Orb+	Verify that the same person who visited the Orb is performing a specific action.	Very Strong	COMING SOON

World ID Orb

World ID Orb is the strongest verification level currently available in World ID. It's a biometric verification that relies on the user visiting a World ID Orb, which verifies that the user is a unique human while preserving their privacy.

World ID Device

World ID Device relies on the user's identity wallet, such as World App, to verify a user's unique device. This is more scalable, user friendly, and privacy-preserving than the previous phone credential, which was issued when a user verified their phone number in World App.

When to use World ID Device vs. Orb

World ID Device offers an assurance that's convenient for a user to obtain, but it also provides a weaker level of resistance to Sybil attacks than World ID's Orb credential. It's best used for applications that only require a moderate level of sybil resistance or have a significant user base in regions where the Orb is not available.

We recommend requiring World ID Orb in instances where users are given a financial incentive, such as a signup bonus or airdrop. For other situations, such as a social media app, it may be sufficient to only require World ID Device. An application can always react according to the verification level used, e.g. when an Orb-verified user performs an action that requires World ID Device.