ISO IEC 19795-1-2021 PDF

Full title and description

Information technology — Biometric performance testing and reporting — Part 1: Principles and framework (ISO/IEC 19795-1:2021). Establishes principles, metrics and reporting requirements for empirical performance testing of biometric systems and algorithms, and provides a framework for developing test protocols and reporting results.

Abstract

This part of ISO/IEC 19795: defines general principles for testing biometric system performance (error rates and throughput), specifies performance metrics, and sets requirements for test protocols, data recording and reporting to reduce bias and improve estimation of field performance. It applies to empirical analyses of comparison scores and decisions produced by biometric systems and does not cover deliberate subversion (presentation attacks).

General information

• Status: Published (current edition).
• Publication date: May 2021 (corrected version issued September 2024 noted by publisher).
• Publisher: ISO / IEC (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 37 Biometrics).
• ICS / categories: 35.240.15 (Identification cards; Biometrics).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2021).
• Number of pages: 76 (publisher-stated page count; some national adopters/collections list 77–88 pages depending on formatting).

Scope

Provides requirements and recommendations for empirical performance testing of biometric systems and algorithms based on analysis of comparison scores and decisions. The standard covers definition of performance measures (error and throughput rates), protocol structure, test planning, data collection controls, analysis approaches and reporting formats so that results are comparable and bias is minimised. It explicitly excludes measurement of error and throughput when people deliberately attempt to subvert the system (for example presentation attacks), which are addressed by other work.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and conceptual model of a general biometric system (capture, processing, storage, comparison, decision, interfaces).
• Standardised performance metrics: error rates (FAR, FRR, EER and related measures) and throughput rates.
• Requirements for planning evaluations (sampling, population description, controlling influencing factors).
• Specification of test protocol elements to reduce bias and clarify applicability of results.
• Data recording and reporting requirements to ensure reproducibility and comparability of results.
• Guidance on enrolment, verification and identification transaction types and analysis of comparison scores.
• Conformance and reporting formats for communicating test outcomes to stakeholders.

Typical use and users

Used by biometric product vendors and developers for internal performance evaluation; independent test laboratories and certification bodies when designing and executing performance tests; procurement teams and system integrators for comparing candidate solutions; researchers studying biometric algorithms and systems; and regulators or policy bodies seeking objective, repeatable performance evidence.

Related standards

Part of the ISO/IEC 19795 series. Closely related documents include ISO/IEC 19795-2 (Testing methodologies for technology and scenario evaluation), ISO/IEC TR 19795-3 (modality-specific testing guidance), and ISO/IEC 19795-4 (interoperability performance testing). It is also commonly used alongside biometric data interchange format standards (ISO/IEC 19794 series) and presentation-attack-detection standards (ISO/IEC 30107 series) when designing comprehensive evaluation programmes.

Keywords

Biometrics, performance testing, error rates, throughput, test protocol, evaluation, reporting, interoperability, enrolment, verification, identification.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 19795-1:2021 is an international standard that defines the principles, metrics and reporting requirements for empirical performance testing of biometric systems and algorithms.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the conceptual model of biometric systems, standard performance metrics (error and throughput rates), planning and controlling evaluations, requirements for test protocols, and requirements for recording and reporting test data and results to reduce bias and improve comparability.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Vendors, independent test laboratories, certification bodies, researchers, procurement teams, system integrators and regulators who need standardised, reproducible biometric performance assessments.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2021 edition (Edition 2) is the current published version, replacing the 2006 edition; a corrected version was noted by the publisher in September 2024. National adoptions and confirmations of related parts may have differing review dates—check your national standards body for adoption details.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. ISO/IEC 19795-1 is part of the 19795 series on biometric performance testing and reporting; other parts address testing methodologies, modality-specific guidance and interoperability testing (for example -2, -3, -4).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Biometrics; performance metrics; error rate; throughput; test protocol; evaluation; interoperability; enrolment; verification; identification.