Read one marker at a time
Source identity is not a single fact. It is four separate observations. Read each on its own, because none of them confirms another.
The four markers
- Visible name — azure.
The name the page currently displays. What it shows, not what it is, and not what it claims to be.
- Exact domain — vermilion.
The real domain, subdomain, and path — read precisely from the address, never from memory or a guess.
- Page context — lime.
The title and surrounding content that describe what the page is and what it is about.
- Final destination — silver.
Where a link or redirect actually lands after you follow it, not where the anchor text says it goes.
Why the markers are checked separately
A page can show one name and live on a completely different domain. A link can promise one destination and land somewhere else. If you merge the markers, you can no longer see where they disagree — and disagreement is exactly what you need to notice.
Four matching markers are an observation, not a proof. They never certify ownership or an official relationship.
A worked reading
- Visible name: the page shows a short brand-like name.
- Exact domain: the address has a subdomain and a path you read in full.
- Page context: the title describes the page’s purpose.
- Final destination: the link resolves to a page that may or may not match the name.
Identity-reading example — not ownership proof, verification, or a saved lookup.
Continue your review
Next, read domain, subdomain, path, and redirects with the domain context guide, and learn where to stop with the same-name boundary guide.