ISO/IEC 2382-37:2022

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 2382-37
Third edition
2022-03
Information technology —
Vocabulary —
Part 37:
Biometrics
Technologies de l'information — Vocabulaire —
Partie 37: Biométrie
Информационные технологии — Словарь —
Часть 37: Часть 37: Биометрия
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2022
© ISO/IEC 2022
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© ISO/IEC 2022 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 Terms related to general concepts . 1
3.2 Terms related to biometric systems . 2
3.3 Terms related to data in biometric systems . 4
3.4 Terms related to devices . 11
3.5 Terms related to functioning . 11
3.6 Terms related to interaction . 14
3.7 Terms related to personnel . 19
3.8 Terms related to application .23
3.9 Terms related to performance .23
Bibliography .30
Alphabetical Index.31
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© ISO/IEC 2022 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical
activity. ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the
work.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance
are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria
needed for the different types of document should be noted. This document was drafted in
accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or
www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject
of patent rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the
Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents) or the IEC
list of patent declarations received (see https://patents.iec.ch).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html. In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 37, Biometrics.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO/IEC 2382-37:2017), which has been
technically revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— modifications to some of the terms published in the 2017 edition; and
— addition of new terms related to biometric systems (starting from 37.02.08), data in biometric
systems (starting from 37.03.42), devices (37.04.02), interaction (starting from 37.06.33), personnel
(starting from 37.07.26) and performance (starting from 37.09.23).
A list of all parts in the ISO/IEC 2382 series can be found on the ISO and IEC websites.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and
www.iec.ch/national-committees.
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© ISO/IEC 2022 – All rights reserved

Introduction
The main purpose of this document is to provide a systematic description of the concepts in the subject
field of biometrics and to clarify the use of the terms in this subject field. The subject field of biometrics
is broken down into sub-fields.
This document is addressed to biometrics standardizers and to users of these standards.
The terms defined in this document are to be understood within the context of the subject field of
biometrics. When terms exist in various subject fields, the relevant subject field is indicated in angle
brackets.
Words that are written in italics are defined in this document. Words that are written in upright font
are to be understood in their natural language sense. The authority for natural language use of terms
in this document is the Concise Oxford English Dictionary (COED), Thumb Index Edition (tenth edition,
revised, 2002).
The numbering of all terms in this document begins with “37” to indicate the Subcommittee of Joint
Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1 that created the terms. This is consistent will all other parts of the
ISO/IEC 2382 series. The subsequent numerical heading for each entry within this document (37.xx)
represents the number of the highest-level category in the concept map in which the term primarily
falls. This is consistent with “Systematic Order” as described in ISO 10241-1:2011, 5.1.2, in which the
heading reflects the concept system. In the first edition of this document (ISO/IEC 2382-37:2012),
the third numerical designator (37.xx.yy) was also consistent with “Systematic Order”, moving from
most general to more specific terms within each highest-level category of the concept map. With the
development of the current edition of this document, the decision was made to append the new terms
in each category such that the numbering of the earlier terms inherited from the 2012 edition would
not change. This implies that the third numerical designator is now in “Mixed Order” as described in
ISO 10241-1:2011, 5.1.3.
So, terms are added to this document in batches for each updated version. These terms are added in
alphabetical order. This ensures that the numbers allocated to a term remain the same and that they
can be referred to consistently.
The terms in this document are listed under a number of general headings.
The layout follows the directions given in ISO 10241-1. Thus, the elements of an entry appear in the
following order:
— Entry number (mandatory)
— Preferred term(s) (mandatory)
— Admitted term(s)
— Deprecated term(s)
— Definition (mandatory)
— Example(s)
— Note(s) to entry
The alphabetical index includes preferred and admitted terms.
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© ISO/IEC 2022 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 2382-37:2022(E)
Information technology — Vocabulary —
Part 37:
Biometrics
1 Scope
This document establishes a systematic description of the concepts in the field of biometrics pertaining
to recognition of human beings. This document also reconciles variant terms in use in pre-existing
International Standards on biometrics against the preferred terms, thereby clarifying the use of terms
in this field.
This document does not cover concepts (represented by terms) from information technology, pattern
recognition, biology, mathematics, etc. Biometrics uses such fields of knowledge as a basis.
In principle, mode-specific terms are outside of scope of this document.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1 Terms related to general concepts
37.01.01
biometric, adj
of or having to do with biometrics (37.01.03)
Note 1 to entry: The use of biometric as a noun, to mean for example, biometric characteristic (37.01.02), is
deprecated.
EXAMPLE 1 Incorrect usage #1: ICAO resolved that face is the biometric most suited to the practicalities of
travel documents.
EXAMPLE 2 Correct usage #1: ICAO resolved that face recognition is the biometric mode (37.02.05) most
suited to the practicalities of travel documents.
EXAMPLE 3 Incorrect usage #2: The biometric recorded in my passport is a facial image.
EXAMPLE 4 Correct usage #2: The biometric characteristic recorded in my passport is a facial image.
th
Note 2 to entry: Since the late 19 century the terms biometrics and biometry have been used with the general
meaning of counting, measuring and statistical analysis of any kind of data in the biological sciences including
the relevant medical sciences.
© ISO/IEC 2022 – All rights reserved

37.01.02
biometric characteristic
DEPRECATED biometric
biological and behavioural characteristic of an individual from which distinguishing, repeatable
biometric features (37.03.11) can be extracted for the purpose of biometric recognition (37.01.03)
EXAMPLE Examples of biometric characteristics are Galton ridge structure, face topography, facial skin
texture, hand topography, finger topography, iris structure, vein structure of the hand, ridge structure of the
palm, retinal pattern, handwritten signature dynamics, etc.
37.01.03
biometric recognition
biometrics
automated recognition of individuals based on their biological and behavioural characteristics
Note 1 to entry: In the field of biometrics (as defined in this document), “Individual" is restricted in scope to refer
only to humans.
Note 2 to entry: The general meaning of biometrics encompasses counting, measuring and statistical analysis of
any kind of data in the biological sciences including the relevant medical sciences.
Note 3 to entry: Biometric recognition encompasses biometric verification (37.08.03) and biometric identification
(37.08.02).
Note 4 to entry: Automated recognition implies that a machine-based system is used for the recognition either
for the full process or assisted by a human being.
Note 5 to entry: Behavioural and biological characteristics cannot be completely separated which is why
the definition uses ‘and’ instead of ‘and/or’. For example, a fingerprint image results from the biological
characteristics of the finger ridge patterns and the behavioural act of presenting the finger.
Note 6 to entry: Use of 'authentication' as a synonym for “biometric verification or biometric identification” is
deprecated; the term biometric recognition is preferred.
3.2 Terms related to biometric systems
37.02.01
biometric capture subsystem
biometric capture devices (37.04.01) and any sub-processes required to execute a biometric capture
process (37.05.02)
Note 1 to entry: In some biometric systems (37.02.03), converting a signal from a biometric characteristic (37.01.02)
to a captured biometric sample (37.03.25) can include multiple components such as a camera, photographic paper,
printer, digital scanner, ink and paper.
Note 2 to entry: A biometric capture subsystem can consist of only a single biometric capture device.
37.02.02
biometric identification system
system that aims to perform biometric identification (37.08.02)
37.02.03
biometric system
system for the purpose of the biometric re
...