> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cheqd.io/product/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cheqd.io/product/learning-docs/decentralized-id/dids/what-is-a-did-method.md).

# What is a DID method?

A DID method is defined by a DID method specification, which specifies the precise operations by which [DIDs](https://www.w3.org/TR/did-core/#dfn-decentralized-identifiers) and [DID documents](https://www.w3.org/TR/did-core/#dfn-did-documents) are created, resolved, updated, and deactivated.

There are currently **over 100 DID methods**, but only a few which should have working DID Resolvers and DID Registrars. 

<table data-card-size="large" data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>cheqd DID Method</strong></mark></td><td>See cheqd's DID Method on our Product documentation.</td><td><a href="https://docs.cheqd.io/identity/architecture/adr-list/adr-001-cheqd-did-method">https://docs.cheqd.io/identity/architecture/adr-list/adr-001-cheqd-did-method</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>DID Spec Registries</strong></mark></td><td>Explore the registered DID Methods on the DID Spec registries.</td><td><a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/did-spec-registries/">https://www.w3.org/TR/did-spec-registries/</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Universal Registrar</strong></mark></td><td>View the set of DID Methods that have a working DID Registrar.</td><td><a href="https://uniregistrar.io/">https://uniregistrar.io/</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Universal Resolver</strong></mark></td><td>View the set of DID Methods that have a working DID Resolver.</td><td><a href="https://dev.uniresolver.io/">https://dev.uniresolver.io/</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Further reading

<table data-card-size="large" data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>DID Core Spec</strong></mark></td><td>Dive into the W3C DID Core Recommendation to fully grasp the power of DIDs.</td><td><a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/did-core/">https://www.w3.org/TR/did-core/</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>DID Resolution Spec</strong></mark></td><td>Learn about how DIDs can be resolved or dereferenced from the W3C DID Resolution Spec.</td><td><a href="https://w3c-ccg.github.io/did-resolution/">https://w3c-ccg.github.io/did-resolution/</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


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