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

# Identity Clustering

> How Burst groups related token launches into identity clusters.

Identity clustering is the first step of the Fusion program. Burst groups related launches so it can later resolve which token becomes canonical.

## How clustering works

Clustering happens off-chain.

Burst groups launches only when they appear to represent the same underlying idea.

Signals can include:

* normalized ticker similarity,
* normalized name similarity,
* image similarity through perceptual hashing,
* and optional source references such as a tweet or media link.

This is what prevents unrelated tokens from being merged.

## What defines an identity

An identity is not a single field. It is a composite signal derived from the token's name, ticker, image, and any external references.

Burst uses this composite to group tokens into an `identity_id`. All tokens within the same `identity_id` are considered variants of the same underlying idea.

## Clustering signals

### Ticker similarity

Burst normalizes tickers and compares them. Tokens with the same or near-identical tickers are strong candidates for the same cluster.

### Name similarity

Names are normalized and compared. Minor variations in capitalization, spacing, or formatting do not prevent clustering.

### Image similarity

Burst uses perceptual hashing to compare token images. This catches edited, resized, or slightly modified versions of the same image.

[Learn more about visual clustering](/fusion/visual-clustering)

### Source references

If a token references a specific tweet, media link, or external event, that signal can also contribute to clustering.

## What clustering does not do

* It does not block token creation.
* It does not prevent variants from trading on the bonding curve.
* It does not affect pre-graduation behavior.

Clustering only determines which tokens are related. The actual resolution happens at [graduation](/fusion/graduation-merge).