What is the difference between authentication and identification?
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Identification is claiming that you are someone. Authentication is proving it.
The two are sometimes interchangeable in language, where identification implies authentication, such as supplying a driver’s license or passport. We call that Identification, but a piece of paper with your name written on it provides the same Identification information. The security features of the driver’s license (hologram, bar code, microprint, UV watermark, …) provides the Authentication.
Edit to clarify, as I misspoke – your picture on the driver’s license is actually the Authentication
Authentication takes the form of something you know, something you have, or something you are.
Something you know would be a password, PIN, secret handshake
Something you have would be a token, access card, key
Something you are would be your face, fingerprints, voice pattern
So when you present your driver’s license, your identification is your name, address, and other information on the card. Your picture is the Authentication as whoever is authenticating you would compare the picture on the license to your face.
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