# OpenAM Administration Guide
Chapter 12. Managing SAML 2.0 Federation

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## 12.11. Using SAML 2.0 Artifacts

By default OpenAM transmits SAML messages by value. This makes it possible to access the SAML messages in the user agent. You can instead request that OpenAM transmit SAML messages by reference using SAML artifacts, which are small values that reference a SAML message. Providers then communicate directly to resolve artifacts, rather than sending the messages through the user agent.

When initiating single sign-on using `idpSSOInit.jsp` or `spSSOInit.jsp` for example, add `binding=HTTP-Artifact` to the list of query parameters. The following example works in an environment where the identity provider is `www.idp.example` and the service provider is `www.sp.example`. Both providers have deployed OpenAM on port 8080 under deployment URI `/openam`.

    http://www.sp.example:8080/openam/saml2/jsp/spSSOInit.jsp?
       idpEntityID=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.idp.example%3A8080%2Fopenam
       &metaAlias=/sp
       &binding=HTTP-Artifact