What is biometric processing?

Biometric processing means comparing or analysing biometric information, using a biometric system, to either:

• Verify their identity – sometimes called one-to-one matching (biometric verification). 
• Identify them out of a group or database of people – sometimes called one-to-many matching (biometric identification). 
• Categorise them or infer other information about them (biometric categorisation). For example, using a biometric system to infer someone’s emotions from their voice or estimate their age from their face.

The Biometrics Guidance contains more information and examples of biometric processing.

Updated November 2025