How Does WebAuthn Differ From Passkeys?

How Does WebAuthn Differ From Passkeys?#

WebAuthn is a web security protocol developed by the FIDO Alliance, designed to enable secure, passwordless authentication on the web. Passkeys, on the other hand, are a specific implementation of WebAuthn that focuses on providing a user-friendly, secure authentication method by replacing traditional passwords with cryptographic keys stored on a user’s device.

Key Differences#

WebAuthn is the broader protocol; passkeys are a specific application of that protocol.
WebAuthn can support multiple authentication methods, including hardware security keys; passkeys
Passkeys aim to enhance user experience by simplifying the authentication process, while WebAuthn provides the underlying framework for various passwordless solutions.

WebAuthn is the underlying protocol; passkeys are built on WebAuthn.
Passkeys specifically focus on replacing passwords with cryptographic keys.
WebAuthn supports various passwordless authentication methods beyond passkeys.

Understanding WebAuthn and Passkeys#

WebAuthn (Web Authentication) is a web standard published by the W3C and supported by major browsers. It enables strong, phishing-resistant authentication by allowing users to sign in with a cryptographic key pair, rather than a password. WebAuthn was developed by the FIDO Alliance (Fast Identity Online) and is a key component of their broader FIDO2 project, which aims to reduce the reliance on passwords.

Passkeys are a technology based on the WebAuthn standard, designed to further simplify the user experience while maintaining high security. Passkeys work by generating and storing a unique cryptographic key pair on a user’s device - typically in hardware security module like the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) or Secure Enclave. When a user attempts to sign in, the website or service sends a challenge, which is signed by the private key stored on the user’s device. This signed challenge is then sent back and verified by the service using the public key.

Differences and Implications#

WebAuthn's flexibility: WebAuthn supports multiple types of authenticators, including external hardware security keys (like YubiKeys), biometric devices, and passkeys stored on a user’s device.
Passkeys for convenience: Passkeys are specifically designed to replace traditional passwords and provide a seamless authentication experience. They can be used with a user’s device, meaning users don't need to remember a password or carry an external hardware security keys.
Adoption: While WebAuthn is a versatile protocol used by various industries, passkeys are increasingly being adopted for consumer-facing applications where ease of use is crucial.

About Corbado

Corbado is the Passkey Intelligence Platform for CIAM teams running consumer authentication at scale. We help you see what IDP logs and generic analytics tools can't: which devices, OS versions, browsers and credential managers support passkeys, why enrollments don't turn into logins, where the WebAuthn flow fails and when an OS / browser update silently breaks login, all without replacing Okta, Auth0, Ping, Cognito or your in-house IDP. Two products: Corbado Observe layers observability for passkeys and any other login method. Corbado Connect adds managed passkeys with analytics built in (alongside your IDP). VicRoads runs passkeys for 5M+ users with Corbado (+80% passkey activation). Talk to a Passkey Expert →