> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tinycloud.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Understand the protocol

> Check the model before you implement manifests, delegations, or capability checks.

Use this path when you need to verify TinyCloud terminology, capability names, or delegation behavior before you code against it.

## Read in this order

1. Start with [System model](/concepts/system-model) for the big picture.
2. Read [Capabilities](/concepts/capabilities) to understand TinyCloud's UCAN and ReCap authorization model.
3. Read [App manifests](/concepts/app-manifests) to see how apps request capabilities during sign-in.
4. Read [DID Formats](/concepts/did-formats) to keep owner DIDs and session DIDs distinct.
5. Check [Capability Registry](/reference/protocol/capabilities) for the exact action names, aliases, and statuses that the node currently exposes.

## After that

* Read [Delegations](/guides/delegations) if you are enforcing attenuation rules or sharing access.
* Read [Sharing](/guides/sharing) if you need portable access bundles.
* Read [Data Vault](/guides/data-vault) if your flow depends on client-side encryption and re-encryption.

## Source note

Implementation facts live in the linked guides, the generated capability registry, and the TinyCloud node source. Treat whitepaper language as normative only when it does not conflict with those sources.