Biometric Authentication and Identification refer to security processes that use unique biological characteristics to verify or determine an individual's identity. These methods are increasingly used in various sectors—such as banking, healthcare, law enforcement, and consumer electronics—due to their accuracy, convenience, and resistance to fraud.

Biometric Authentication vs. Identification

Authentication: Confirms a person's claimed identity (e.g., unlocking a phone with a fingerprint).

Identification: Determines who someone is from a pool of enrolled individuals (e.g., matching a face in a surveillance video against a database).

Common Biometric Modalities

Fingerprint Recognition – Captures patterns of ridges and valleys on a finger.

Facial Recognition – Analyzes facial features, often used in smartphones and surveillance.

Iris and Retina Scans – Examine eye patterns that are highly unique and difficult to forge.

Voice Recognition – Identifies individuals based on speech patterns and vocal characteristics.

Palm and Vein Scanning – Use vascular patterns beneath the skin for high-security applications.

Behavioral Biometrics – Analyze patterns in typing, walking, or device usage.