SCL:V1 Document Structure

SCL is the deterministic, cryptographic identity protocol for AI run declarations.

Components

A valid SCL:V1 document has exactly three components in mandatory order:

1. Header

Exact literal: SCL:V1 at byte 0
Must be uppercase
Followed by exactly one blank line

2. Handles Block

Begins with handles {
Contains one or more handle declarations
Ends with }

3. SCL Block

Begins with scl {
Contains declared execution content (quoted or raw mode)
Ends with }
Final component in the document

Mandatory Order

Components MUST appear in this exact sequence: header, handles block, scl block. No reordering, omission, or additional sections are permitted.

Structural Enforcement

A document is invalid if:

Components are reordered
A required component is omitted
An additional top-level section is introduced
Trailing content appears after the closing } of the scl block

Any deviation is a protocol failure.

Relationship to Deterministic Identity

The document structure establishes the required boundary for compliant parsing. Valid structure is a prerequisite for producing canonical JSON bytes and deriving SHA-256 identity through the deterministic process.

The full rules are defined in the SCL:V1 specification. The reference engine verifies structural compliance.