W3C Publishes First Public Working Draft for WebAuthn Passkey Endpoints

On August 21, 2025, the Web Application Security Working Group at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) released the First Public Working Draft of A Well-Known URL for Relying Party Passkey Endpoints. This new specification introduces a standardized approach to improve the discoverability of passkey creation and management endpoints for WebAuthn Relying Parties (RPs). By defining a well-known URL, this draft aims to streamline how WebAuthn clients and authenticators interact with services supporting passkeys, enhancing both security and user experience on the web.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the significance of this draft, its implications for web security, and what it means for developers, organizations, and end-users.


What Are Passkeys and WebAuthn?

Before diving into the specification, let’s clarify some key terms. WebAuthn (Web Authentication) is a W3C standard that enables strong, passwordless authentication using public-key cryptography. It allows users to authenticate with services using secure credentials, such as biometrics or hardware tokens, instead of traditional passwords.

Passkeys are a user-friendly implementation of WebAuthn credentials, often stored on devices like smartphones or computers. They provide a seamless way for users to log in to websites or applications without entering passwords, offering both convenience and enhanced security. However, one challenge has been the lack of a standardized way for Relying Parties (RPs)—the services or websites implementing WebAuthn—to advertise their support for passkeys and provide clear endpoints for creating or managing them.

This is where the new specification comes in.

The Problem This Specification Solves

Currently, WebAuthn Relying Parties lack a uniform method to communicate to clients and authenticators that they support passkeys, as well as where users can create or manage these credentials. Without a standardized approach, developers must implement custom solutions, which can lead to inconsistencies, interoperability issues, and a fragmented user experience. For example, a website might support passkeys, but a client application may struggle to locate the appropriate endpoints for creating or managing them, leading to confusion or failed authentication attempts.

The Well-Known URL for Relying Party Passkey Endpoints specification addresses this by defining a well-known URL—a standardized web address (e.g., /.well-known/passkey-endpoints)—that RPs can host. This URL provides a structured way to expose passkey-related endpoints, making them easily discoverable by WebAuthn clients (like browsers) and authenticators (like password managers or hardware keys).

Key Features of the Specification

The draft, published as part of the W3C’s Recommendation track, outlines several important components:

  1. Well-Known URL Definition: The specification introduces a specific URL path, /.well-known/passkey-endpoints, that RPs can implement. This URL serves as a centralized point where clients and authenticators can retrieve information about the RP’s passkey capabilities.

  2. Server Response Structure: When queried, the well-known URL returns a JSON response containing details about the RP’s passkey endpoints, such as:

    • The endpoint for creating new passkeys.

    • The endpoint for managing existing passkeys.

    • Any additional metadata, like supported protocols or authentication methods.

  3. Client Processing: WebAuthn clients, such as browsers or mobile apps, can query this well-known URL to discover the RP’s passkey endpoints. This enables seamless integration with the RP’s authentication system, reducing the need for manual configuration or proprietary solutions.

  4. IANA Considerations: The specification includes provisions for registering the passkey-endpoints well-known URI with the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), ensuring it adheres to global standards for well-known URLs.

These features aim to create a consistent, interoperable framework that simplifies passkey integration across different platforms and services.

Why This Matters

The introduction of this specification is a significant step toward improving web authentication. Here are some key benefits:

  • Improved Interoperability: By standardizing how passkey endpoints are advertised, the specification ensures that WebAuthn clients and authenticators can work seamlessly with any RP that implements the well-known URL. This reduces compatibility issues and promotes broader adoption of passkeys.

  • Enhanced User Experience: For end-users, this means a smoother authentication process. Instead of navigating complex or inconsistent interfaces to set up or manage passkeys, users can rely on standardized endpoints that their devices and browsers can automatically discover.

  • Increased Security: Passkeys are inherently more secure than passwords, as they rely on cryptographic keys that are resistant to phishing and other attacks. By making passkey implementation easier for developers, this specification encourages more services to adopt secure authentication methods.

  • Developer Efficiency: Developers no longer need to build custom solutions to advertise passkey support. The well-known URL provides a clear, standardized way to expose endpoints, reducing development time and complexity.

What’s Next for the Specification?

As a First Public Working Draft, this document is an early milestone in the W3C’s standardization process. It is not yet a final recommendation and is subject to change based on feedback from the web community, developers, and stakeholders. The Web Application Security Working Group is actively seeking input to refine the specification. Here’s how you can get involved:

  • Provide Feedback: Comments can be submitted via the public mailing list public-webappsec@w3.org with the subject line [passkey-endpoints] …message topic…. The group also encourages feedback through its GitHub repository.

  • Track Progress: The latest version of the specification is available at https://www.w3.org/TR/passkey-endpoints/, with the editor’s draft at https://w3c.github.io/webappsec-passkey-endpoints/.

  • Patent Exclusion Period: Participants in the Web Application Security Working Group have until January 18, 2026, to exclude patent claims related to this specification, as per the W3C Patent Policy. This ensures the specification remains royalty-free and accessible to all.

The draft is expected to evolve through multiple iterations, incorporating community feedback and addressing technical challenges before it becomes a W3C Recommendation.

Broader Context: W3C’s 2025 Efforts

This specification is part of a broader set of initiatives by the W3C in 2025 to advance web standards. Alongside this draft, the Web Application Security Working Group also published the First Public Working Draft of Device Bound Session Credentials on the same day, which aims to prevent session hijacking via cookie theft. Other recent W3C efforts include updates to the Accessibility Conformance Testing Rules Format, the CSS Borders and Box Decorations Module, and the W3C Process Document, reflecting the organization’s commitment to accessibility, security, and performance.

Conclusion

The First Public Working Draft of A Well-Known URL for Relying Party Passkey Endpoints marks an important step toward making passkey authentication more accessible and consistent across the web. By defining a standardized well-known URL, the W3C is paving the way for better interoperability, enhanced security, and a smoother user experience. As this specification progresses, it has the potential to accelerate the adoption of passwordless authentication, bringing us closer to a more secure and user-friendly web.

Developers, organizations, and users are encouraged to review the draft, provide feedback, and contribute to shaping this standard. Stay tuned for updates as the Web Application Security Working Group refines this specification on its path to becoming a W3C Recommendation.

For more details, visit the official W3C news release: https://www.w3.org/news/2025/first-public-working-draft-a-well-known-url-for-relying-party-passkey-endpoints/.

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