What is an authentication method that identifies individuals based on physical characteristics?

Biometrics is an authentication method that identifies individuals based on their unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, retina scans, or voice patterns. This approach utilizes the distinct biological traits of a person, making it a highly secure method of identification because physical characteristics are much harder to replicate or forge compared to traditional authentication methods. By relying on something inherent to the individual, biometrics enables a more reliable verification process, enhancing overall security in system access.

In contrast, encryption is a method for encoding data to protect it from unauthorized access but does not serve as a means to verify identity. Passwords are a traditional method of authentication based on knowledge, requiring users to remember and enter a secret phrase, which can be forgotten or stolen. Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security by requiring a second form of verification (such as a text message code) but is still reliant on knowledge and possession rather than physical traits. Thus, biometrics stands out as a unique category focused specifically on identifying individuals through their physical attributes.