Authenticator

For the role of the authenticator in the 802.1X authentication protocol, see IEEE 802.1X.

An authenticator is a means used to confirm a user's identity,[1][2] that is, to perform digital authentication. A person authenticates to a computer system or application by demonstrating that he or she has possession and control of an authenticator.[3][4] In the simplest case, the authenticator is a common password.

Using the terminology of the NIST Digital Identity Guidelines,[3] the party to be authenticated is called the claimant while the party verifying the identity of the claimant is called the verifier. When the claimant successfully demonstrates possession and control of one or more authenticators to the verifier through an established authentication protocol, the verifier is able to infer the claimant's identity.

  1. ^ "National Information Assurance (IA) Glossary" (PDF). Committee on National Security Systems. 26 April 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Glossary of Telecommunication Terms". Institute for Telecommunication Sciences. 7 August 1996. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b Grassi, Paul A.; Garcia, Michael E.; Fenton, James L. (June 2017). "NIST Special Publication 800-63-3: Digital Identity Guidelines". National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). doi:10.6028/NIST.SP.800-63-3. Retrieved 5 February 2019. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ Lindemann, Rolf, ed. (11 April 2017). "FIDO Technical Glossary". FIDO Alliance. Retrieved 26 March 2019.