Digital ID (mDL & mobile ID)
Also known as: Mobile driver's license · mDL · Mobile ID · State mobile ID · Digital identity wallet
An official, verifiable version of a person's identity issued to their phone — such as a mobile driver's license or state mobile ID — digitally signed by the issuing authority and checkable without the physical document.
Legal basis
ISO/IEC 18013-5 — Mobile driving licence (mDL)
A digital ID carries the official document onto the device, not as a photo but as a credential digitally signed by the issuing authority, which a verifier can check on the spot. In the US these are mobile driver's licenses (mDL) and state mobile IDs issued by the DMVs — several states now offer one alongside the physical REAL ID card — built on the ISO/IEC 18013-5 standard and the AAMVA mDL implementation guidelines; at the federal level, login.gov plays the analogous role for access to government systems.
For anyone verifying identity, this is the strongest form of proof: it removes the need for document forensics on an image, because the credential arrives already signed and checkable at the source, and it lets the holder share only the attribute that is needed — proving they are over 21 without revealing the date of birth or the full license number. It is close to, but distinct from, reusable identity: here the credential is issued by a government authority, not by a private verification provider.
Frequently asked questions
What is a digital ID?
It is the official version of an identity issued to a phone — such as a mobile driver's license (mDL) or a state mobile ID — digitally signed by the issuing authority and checkable without the physical document. It is a stronger proof of identity because the credential comes already verified at the source.