Behavioural Biometric
Definition
Trait rooted in learned action: voice, gait, signature dynamics, keystroke dynamics, mouse movement.
- Category
- Biometric trait rooted in learned action
- Examples
- Voice, gait, signature dynamics, keystroke dynamics
- Contrast
- Physiological biometrics measure fixed anatomy
Common questions
Why are behavioural biometrics generally weaker identifiers than physiological ones?+
Because they depend on learned or state-dependent action, they show more within-person variability across sessions, from factors like fatigue, mood, injury, or intentional alteration, so they typically support corroborating or screening use more reliably than they support a definitive individual match on their own.
Can a person deliberately alter a behavioural biometric to evade identification?+
Yes, more readily than a physiological trait. Gait, voice, and signature can all be consciously modified with practice, which is why forensic use of behavioural biometrics often weighs consistency over multiple independent samples rather than relying on a single instance.
Related terms
- Biometric
- Any measurable physiological or behavioural trait used to identify or verify an individual. Falls in the 'something you are' authentication category, distinct...
- Enrolment
- First-time capture of a biometric, feature extraction, and storage of the resulting template in the system database.
- FAR / FRR / EER
- False Acceptance Rate (imposter wrongly accepted), False Rejection Rate (genuine user wrongly rejected), and Equal Error Rate (operating point where FAR =...
- Identification (1:N)
- Searching a fresh sample against EVERY template in the database to find a match. Used by AFIS to hit a chance print...
- Physiological Biometric
- Trait rooted in body structure: fingerprint, iris, retina, face, palm print, palm vein, hand geometry, ear shape, DNA.
- Presentation Attack Detection (PAD)
- Liveness checks that block spoofing with fake fingers, photos, iris printouts or cloned voice. Evaluated under ISO/IEC 30107.
- Verification (1:1)
- Matching a fresh sample against ONE stored template tied to a claimed identity. Used to unlock a phone or authenticate a payment.