ID Tech

Fingerprint Recognition

Fingerprint recognition identifies individuals by analyzing unique patterns of ridges and valleys on the fingertip.

Fingerprint recognition is one of the oldest and most widely used biometric modalities. It captures and compares the distinctive ridge patterns of a person's fingertip using optical or capacitive sensors. Modern algorithms extract minutiae points and match them against stored templates, achieving high accuracy and fast performance in applications ranging from smartphone unlocking to large-scale national ID systems.

References

Vendors using Fingerprint Recognition

Aware, Inc.Daon, Inc.HID GlobalIDEMIANEC CorporationNeurotechnologyThales Group

Latest Data Cards

  • Data Card

    FBI Seeks Next-Gen Biometric Algorithms for NGI Upgrade

    2025-11-24CC-BY-4.0fingerprint-recognitionfacial-recognitioniris-recognitionmultimodal-biometrics

    An FBI RFI calls for vendors to provide next-generation fingerprint, face, iris, and tattoo algorithms to modernize the Next Generation Identification (NGI) system.

    • Request spans tenprint, latent, face, iris, and tattoo matching for large-scale identification workloads.
    • Vendors are expected to participate in NIST testing and supply performance data.
    • Signals continued NGI modernization and potential procurement roadmap.
  • Data Card

    Gentex Acquires BioConnect to Form New ‘Security & Access Control’ Division

    2025-11-17CC-BY-4.0fingerprint-recognitionfacial-recognition

    Gentex acquired BioConnect and established a dedicated Security & Access Control division, signaling continued consolidation around biometric access and identity‑centric physical security.

    • Acquisition creates new access‑control division
    • Focus on biometric physical security
    • Expands portfolio into identity‑centric access
  • Data Card

    Kenya Reinstates Biometric Identity for Public Healthcare Access

    2025-08-04CC-BY-4.0digital-idnational-eidfacial-recognitionfingerprint-recognition

    Kenya dropped one-time passwords and reinstated biometric identity checks for access to public healthcare services, citing fraud risks and the need for higher assurance.

    • OTP-only access replaced by biometric verification
    • Authorities cited fraud and impersonation risks
    • Re-introduces face and fingerprint checks at point of service
See more data cards

Frequently Asked Questions

How does fingerprint recognition work?
Fingerprint recognition captures the unique ridge and valley patterns on a fingertip using sensors, then extracts key minutiae points to match against stored templates.
Can fingerprint recognition work with wet or damaged fingers?
Most modern sensors use capacitive or multispectral imaging to handle moisture and minor skin abrasions, but extreme conditions may reduce accuracy.
What are common uses of fingerprint recognition?
Fingerprint recognition is used for smartphone unlocking, access control, time and attendance tracking, and large-scale identity verification systems.