---
url: 'https://www.corbado.com/glossary/fido2'
title: 'FIDO2'
description: 'Explore FIDO2 (Fast IDentity Online), an advanced authentication standard developed to modernize and secure user authentication by replacing passwords.'
lang: 'en'
keywords: 'fido2'
---

# FIDO2

## What Is FIDO2?

**FIDO2** is an advanced authentication standard developed to modernize and secure user
authentication experiences by replacing passwords with more secure and user-friendly
alternatives. This initiative is spearheaded by the **FIDO (Fast Identity Online)
Alliance**, and **FIDO2** encompasses two main specifications:

- **WebAuthn (Web Authentication)**, a standard created by the World Wide Web Consortium
  (W3C), outlines how web applications can leverage
  [public key cryptography](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/public-key-cryptography) and
  [authenticators](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/authenticator) to securely authenticate users.
- **CTAP (Client to Authenticator Protocol)**, defined by the
  [FIDO Alliance](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/fido-alliance), describes how external
  [authenticators](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/authenticator) like security keys interact with platforms to
  ensure secure authentication.

## Key Takeaways

> - **FIDO2** is a robust authentication standard aiming to phase out passwords for more
>   secure and user-friendly methods like biometric or
>   [security key](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/security-key) authentications.
> - **WebAuthn** and **CTAP** are the two core specifications under the FIDO2 standard that
>   enable secure user authentication across web applications and devices.
> - **FIDO2** provides a strong defense against common cyber threats such as
>   [phishing](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/phishing), password theft, and man-in-the-middle attacks, promoting
>   a safer online environment.

---

The evolution of **FIDO2** stems from the [FIDO Alliance](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/fido-alliance)'s
previous efforts, namely **FIDO UAF (Universal Authentication Framework)** and **FIDO U2F
(Universal 2nd Factor)**. However, **FIDO2** is engineered to take user authentication a
notch higher by completely eliminating passwords, thereby addressing the inherent security
flaws associated with password-based authentication systems.

### Security

- **FIDO2** employs public-key cryptography where the private key, stored securely on the
  user's device, and a public key, shared with the service, are used for authentication.
  This model significantly mitigates the risks associated with
  [phishing](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/phishing), password theft, and replay attacks.
- **FIDO2** credentials are unique for each website, ensuring that tracking users across
  different sites is impossible, hence enhancing
  [user privacy](https://www.corbado.com/faq/ensure-gdpr-compliance-with-passkeys).

### Convenience

- Users can utilize simple actions like fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, or
  external security keys to unlock cryptographic login credentials, making the login
  process quicker and more straightforward.
- By supporting a the Web Authentication API, a JavaScript API, **FIDO2** allows easy
  integration across various web platforms, ensuring a wider adoption rate and better user
  experience.

### Scalability

- With the backing of industry giants like Google, Microsoft, and Apple, **FIDO2** is on a
  trajectory to become a widely accepted standard, making the internet a safer place for
  billions of users worldwide.
- **FIDO2** also fosters a more user-centric authentication model, ensuring that
  individuals have full control over their authentication data, a significant leap towards
  enhancing online privacy and security.

---

## FIDO2 FAQs

### How does FIDO2 improve user authentication?

- **FIDO2** enhances user authentication by replacing passwords with more secure methods
  like biometrics (e.g. [Face ID](https://www.corbado.com/faq/is-face-id-passkey), Touch ID,
  [Windows Hello](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/windows-hello)) or
  [hardware security keys](https://www.corbado.com/blog/best-fido2-hardware-security-keys) (e.g.
  [YubiKeys](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/yubikey)), which significantly reduces the risk of cyber attacks
  such as [phishing](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/phishing) and password theft.

### What are the core components of FIDO2?

- The core components of **FIDO2** are **WebAuthn** and **CTAP** which facilitate secure
  user authentication across web applications and devices respectively.

### How does FIDO2 compare to previous FIDO standards?

- Unlike its predecessors, **FIDO2** aims to completely
  [eliminate passwords](https://www.corbado.com/faq/boost-passkey-enrollment-reduce-password-otp), providing a
  more secure and
  [user-friendly authentication](https://www.corbado.com/faq/passkey-user-experience-benefits-non-technical-audience)
  mechanism, making it a superior choice for modern web applications and services.

### Are there any drawbacks to using FIDO2 authentication?

- One of the potential drawbacks is the need for users to have a compatible
  [authenticator](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/authenticator) like a biometric-enabled device or an external
  hardware [security key](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/security-key) (e.g. [YubiKey](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/yubikey)).

### How can developers implement FIDO2 in their applications?

- Developers can implement \***\*FIDO2\*\*** by leveraging the **WebAuthn** API for web
  applications and utilizing **CTAP** for communication with external
  [authenticators](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/authenticator), aligning with **FIDO2** specifications to
  ensure a secure and streamlined user authentication experience. ‍