What is biometric authentication?

Biometric authentication refers to a security process that utilizes unique biological characteristics of individuals to verify their identity. This can include traits such as fingerprints, facial recognition, iris patterns, or voice recognition. The core principle behind biometric authentication is that these biological traits are unique to each individual, making them difficult to replicate or forge, thereby enhancing the security of the authentication process.

In contrast to traditional methods of verification, such as passwords or tokens, which can be forgotten, stolen, or duplicated, biometric systems provide a higher level of security that relies on physical or behavioral attributes that are inherently linked to the individual. This makes biometric authentication a preferred method in many secure environments, as it offers a balance of convenience and security.

The other concepts reflect different security measures but do not align with the definition of biometric authentication; for example, passwords and digital tokens rely on user knowledge or possession rather than inherent biological traits, and creating stronger social passwords is a strategy for enhancing password security rather than a biometric method.