How Arrota records work

A record and its documents

In Arrota, a record is the structured fact: a role held at an employer between two dates, for example, or a qualification awarded by a university. A document is a file that supports that fact, such as the letter or certificate itself.

One record can have several documents. Keeping the facts separate from the files means a record can be shared or checked without handing over the underlying document.

The life of a record

1. Issued. An organisation creates the record in Arrota, either from a certificate template or by uploading the finished document.
2. Delivered. The recipient gets an email. If they already have an Arrota account, the record goes straight to their Vault. Otherwise the email contains a private claim invitation.
3. Kept. The record sits in the individual's Vault with its source, status and history, and stays there after they leave the organisation.
4. Shared. The individual decides who sees it: with a private link, or on their public profile when the record qualifies.
5. Checked. A verifier checks a public credential, or runs a formal verification that the individual authorises.

Records people add themselves

Individuals can also upload documents they already hold, such as an older experience letter. These carry a different label from issued records, because no organisation has stood behind them yet. See Add your own record.

Records change without losing their history

After issuing a record, an organisation can correct it, replace it with a newer record or revoke it. Arrota adds each change to the record's history instead of rewriting it. See Correct a record and What happens when a record is revoked or superseded?