---
title: Authentication Password Syntax
description: Values of this syntax hold encoded or hashed passwords.
component: pingds
version: 8.1
page_id: pingds:schemaref:s-AuthenticationPasswordSyntax
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/schemaref/s-AuthenticationPasswordSyntax.html
---

# Authentication Password Syntax

Values of this syntax hold encoded or hashed passwords.

The syntax follows this ABNF:

```
authPasswordValue = w scheme s authInfo s authValue w
scheme = %x30-39 / %x41-5A / %x2D-2F / %x5F
; 0-9, A-Z, "-", ".", "/", or "_"
authInfo = schemeSpecificValue
authValue = schemeSpecificValue
schemeSpecificValue = *( %x21-23 / %x25-7E )
; printable ASCII less "$" and " "
s = w SEP w
w = *SP
SEP = %x24 ; "$"
SP = %x20 ; " " (space)
```

The `scheme` describes the mechanism.

The `authInfo` is often base64-encoded salt.

The `authValue` is often a base64-encoded value derived from the password(s).

|               |                                                           |
| ------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| *OID*         | 1.3.6.1.4.1.4203.1.1.2                                    |
| *Description* | Authentication Password Syntax                            |
| *Origin*      | [RFC 3112](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc3112) |