Developer Resources

Principal IDs

Learn more about Principal IDs that are used as the main unique identifiers on the Internet Computer

IC Academy » Developer Resources » Principal IDs

Principal IDs

Learn more about the Internet Computer’s main unique identifiers

What are Principal IDs?

Let’s have a look at what Principal IDs are:

Principal IDs function as the main unique identifiers on the Internet Computer network. They are used for creating canisters and for authentificaton with dApps and services running on the Internet Computer.

Principal IDs are the only identifiers that the services and dApps know from users. At the same time, it is the only ID that is able to own canisters.

Here is how a sample principal ID looks like:

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It is not possible for a Principal ID to hold, receive, or send ICP tokens, cycles, etc.

Interface Specification

Learn more about the Interface Specification that details how users and services communicate

IC Internet Specification

Introducing the Quill Toolkit

Find out more about Quill, the open source ledger and governance toolkit for the Internet Computer

Quill