Describe the process of biometric authentication.

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Describe the process of biometric authentication.

Biometric authentication is a process that involves the identification or verification of individuals based on their unique physical or behavioral characteristics. It typically follows these steps:

1. Enrollment: The individual's biometric data, such as fingerprints, iris patterns, voice, or facial features, is captured and stored in a database. This process may involve scanning or capturing the biometric information using specialized devices.

2. Pre-processing: The captured biometric data is processed to extract relevant features and convert them into a digital format. This step helps in reducing the data size and enhancing the accuracy of subsequent matching processes.

3. Storage: The processed biometric data is securely stored in a database or on a smart card, ensuring its protection from unauthorized access or tampering.

4. Authentication: When an individual attempts to access a system or facility, their biometric data is captured again and compared with the stored template. This comparison is done using algorithms that analyze the similarities and differences between the captured and stored biometric data.

5. Matching: The captured biometric data is matched against the stored template to determine if there is a sufficient level of similarity or a match. This process involves complex mathematical calculations and statistical analysis to assess the level of similarity.

6. Decision: Based on the matching results, a decision is made regarding the individual's identity. If the biometric data matches with the stored template within an acceptable threshold, the individual is authenticated and granted access. Otherwise, the authentication is denied.

7. Access control: Once the authentication is successful, the individual is granted access to the desired system, facility, or service. This access control can be physical, such as unlocking a door, or digital, such as logging into a computer system.

Overall, biometric authentication provides a secure and reliable method of verifying an individual's identity by leveraging their unique physical or behavioral characteristics.