The WebFinger specification enables discovery of information about a user or resource at a host using an HTTP query to a well-known https endpoint, with the discovered information being returned in a simple JSON structure. For instance, OpenID Connect uses WebFinger to discover the location of a user’s OpenID Connect server.
I’m pleased to report that WebFinger has now completed working group last call, IETF last call, and IESG review. The next step is for the draft to be sent to the RFC Editor for publication as an RFC. The current draft is available at:
Those of you who have been following WebFinger probably realize that I have been an active contributor in moving WebFinger forward as a standard and keeping it simple. WebFinger, as it exists today, was directly influenced by the Simple Web Discovery spec that Yaron Goland and I wrote earlier. I have reviewed every IETF draft and provided comments as well as specific text to the authors. I am grateful to authors Paul Jones and Gonzalo Salgueiro for deciding to add me as a co-author, in recognition of my participation as a de-facto co-author behind the scenes.