# Background We are not entirely happy with the terminology "signer" and "verifier", see [earlier proposal][] and [meeting minutes][]. At a first glance "author" seemed like a good abstract description. More work was needed to replace "verifier". [earlier proposal]: https://git.sigsum.org/sigsum/tree/doc/proposals/2022-01-author-reader-terminology [meeting minutes]: https://git.sigsum.org/sigsum/tree/archive/2022-01-18--meeting-minutes # Proposal 1. Keep the terminology "signer". 2. Replace "verifier" with "end-user" The motivation for keeping "signer" is that it feels natural when we have conversations about Sigsum. The other natural term for the party which will use the signed data in the end is "user". We often say "end-user" for emphasis. # Notes Signer will continue to be overloaded. We should be upfront about this where there is risk for confusion (logs and witnesses are also signers of tree heads). Not introducing abstract terminology unless it is needed is likely a win.