Biometrics refers to technologies used to detect and recognize human physical characteristics. In the world of computing, biometrics is often synonymous with "biometric authentication", a type of security clearance based on the biometric input.
There are several types of biometric authentication. Common examples include the scanning of fingerprints, retina scan, facial recognition and voice analysis. Facial recognition system, for example, uses a camera to capture an image of a person's face. The photograph is then recorded and processed using software biometrics. The software tries to match the scanned image with an image from a database of user photos. If the analysis is close enough to a specific user, the person will be allowed to continue.
In many cases, a biometric scan is similar to a connection. For example, some computers have a fingerprint reader that allows you to authenticate by swiping your finger on a sensor. Instead of entering a username and password, the finger scan provides your permission. Some retail outlets are now using handheld scanners to check the identity of persons as an alternative to entering a unique identification number. High security government buildings and offices may even require retinal scans to access certain areas of the building. In some cases, an access card, password or login is required in addition to a biometric analysis to provide additional security