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An Information Card Identity Selector is software that helps a person choose an Information Card for a website or other relying party’s sign-in request, then supports obtaining a suitable security token from an identity provider. It is not a physical card, and it is not the token sent to the service. The term refers to the historical Information Card model, including Windows CardSpace; the sources below do not establish broad current deployment or support.
What an Information Card Identity Selector is
In the Information Card model, the selector is the user-facing software that mediates a sign-in exchange. It examines what a relying party requests, helps the user select a card that can meet those requirements, and facilitates the request for a token. Microsoft’s Identity Selector interoperability guide describes it as token-type agnostic: it can act as a conduit for a token type requested by a relying party or issued by an identity provider.
IBM’s documentation describes the selector in this flow as a browser plug-in, or “identity agent.” That description applies to the documented Information Card federation model, not to every modern browser or sign-in system. See IBM’s Information Card federation overview.
How the card, selector, and token differ
| Part | Role in the sign-in exchange |
|---|---|
| Information Card | Represents an identity and its relationship to token issuance; it is not the security token delivered to the service. |
| Identity Selector | Lets the user choose a suitable card and mediates the token request. |
| Identity Provider | Issues the requested security token for the selected card. |
| Security Token | Carries the claims used in the interaction with the relying party. |
This distinction matters: the card is selected, and a token is requested when needed. The token—not the card itself—contains the claims presented in the service interaction. Microsoft’s Information Card Profile V1.0 technical reference provides historical profile context.
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What happens during sign-in
- The relying party states its requirements. Its request can identify a token type, issuer, and required claims.
- The selector checks available cards. It compares the request with information associated with the user’s cards and presents an option that can satisfy the request.
- The user chooses a suitable card. If no card can meet the requirements, that card cannot be used for this request.
- The identity provider issues a token. The selector mediates the request; the provider issues the token containing the claims used by the relying party.
How claims affect card selection
Claims are attributes requested or supplied in the sign-in exchange. IBM’s Information Card claims documentation explains that claims can be required to fulfill a user request and that a selector can use claims information to assess whether a card is useful for a relying party.
For example, if a service requires an email claim but a card’s issuer does not support that claim, the card is not a suitable choice for that sign-in. A card’s availability alone does not mean it can satisfy every service’s requirements.
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Historical context and present-day scope
Microsoft’s technical reference for Information Card Profile V1.0 is dated December 2006 and says the profile was used in Windows CardSpace 1.0, implemented in .NET Framework 3.0. This establishes the term’s historical context; it does not show that Information Cards or selectors are broadly supported today.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
