# what is a distributed ledger

A **distributed ledger** isn’t defined in a general way in the accessible docs I can reach.

In the iSHARE docs, the term is used in this specific context:

* The **Participant Registry** (the “Trust Anchor” for a data space) is **built on a Distributed Ledger** across **all data spaces**.
* This is done so the **Framework coverage is digitally verifiable** and so data spaces **operating based on the Trust Framework are interoperable by design**.
* Practically, this supports participant trust/compliance checks via the Participant Registry, including **issuing Participant Credentials as Verifiable Credentials (VCs)**. See [Getting started](/participant-registry-role/getting-started.md).

So, based on the docs, “distributed ledger” describes the underlying technology used to make Participant Registry data **verifiable across data spaces**, not a standalone definition.

# Suggested Follow-up Questions:

If you need more information, consider asking one of these follow-up questions by performing an HTTP GET request on the URL:

- [How does the ledger ensure interoperability?](https://dev.ishare.eu?ask=How%20does%20the%20ledger%20ensure%20interoperability%3F)
- [What is a verifiable credential in this context?](https://dev.ishare.eu?ask=What%20is%20a%20verifiable%20credential%20in%20this%20context%3F)
- [Where can I see the exact ledger-related endpoints?](https://dev.ishare.eu?ask=Where%20can%20I%20see%20the%20exact%20ledger-related%20endpoints%3F)

# Sources:

- [Getting started](https://dev.ishare.eu/participant-registry-role/getting-started.md)
- [Parties [GET]](https://dev.ishare.eu/participant-registry-role/parties.md)
- [PKI](https://dev.ishare.eu/introduction/specific-technical-standards/pki.md)
- [Parties (single party) [GET]](https://dev.ishare.eu/participant-registry-role/single-party.md)
- [Claims [GET]](https://dev.ishare.eu/participant-registry-role/claims-get.md)
- [Test certificates](https://dev.ishare.eu/introduction/getting-started/test-certificates.md)
- [Claim models](https://dev.ishare.eu/reference/claim-models.md)
- [JSON Web Token (JWT)](https://dev.ishare.eu/introduction/specific-technical-standards/json-web-token-jwt.md)
- [DID](https://dev.ishare.eu/introduction/specific-technical-standards/did.md)
- [Verifiable Credentials (VC)](https://dev.ishare.eu/introduction/specific-technical-standards/verifiable-credentials-vc.md)
- [Verifiable Credentials specifications](https://dev.ishare.eu/reference/verifiable-credentials-as-part-of-the-ishare-framework.md)
- [M2M Verifiable Credential Endpoints](https://dev.ishare.eu/entitled-party/m2m-verifiable-credential-endpoints.md)