It is structured as a simple account database with fixed formats for the information exchange and features single login, expiration time, backward compatibility, and multiple virtual organizations.
The database is manipulated by authorization data that defines specific capabilities and roles for users.
A command-line tool allows users to generate a local proxy credential based on the contents of the VOMS database.
VOMS-aware applications can use the VOMS data to make authentication decisions regarding user requests.
VOMS was originally developed by the European DataGrid and Enabling Grids for E-sciencE projects and is now maintained by the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN).