The Fingerprint authentication API

Android Marshmallow now allows us, the developers, to authenticate users with their fingerprint scans when using such authentication scanners on supported devices.

The Fingerprint API was added to Android Marshmallow via a whole new package:

android.hardware.fingerprint

The package contains four classes:

• FingerprintManager

• FingerprintManager.AuthenticationCallback

• FingerprintManager.AuthenticationResult

• FingerprintManager.CryptoObject

Each class has a specific role in our fingerprint authentication process.

How do we use fingerprint authentication?

The preceding four classes of the android.hardware.fingerprint package can be explained in the following manner:

• FingerprintManager: Manage access to fingerprint hardware

• FingerprintManager.AuthenticationCallback: Callback used in the auth process

• FingerprintManager.AuthenticationResult: Result container for auth process

• FingerprintManager.CryptoObject: Specific Crypto object to use with FingerprintManager

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