Identity document

An ID is a paper or card.

It shows who you are. It has your name and birth date. It may have a photo too.

Some cards are smart cards. They use tiny parts to stay safe. Some cards even use your fingerprints.

People use them to show they are real. They help people get things done. An ID is a very useful tool.

An identity document, or ID, proves who you are.

It often holds your name, birth date, and address. Some IDs are plastic cards. Others are called photo IDs because they have a picture.

These documents link you to facts in a computer database.

ID cards have changed over time. Long ago, King Henry V of England made a law for passports. For 500 years, most people did not need an ID. In the early 1900s, photo IDs became common. Today, some cards are "smart cards."

These use tiny computer parts to stay safe. New cards use biometrics. This means they use your fingerprints or even your face.

People have different views on ID cards. Some say they help catch criminals. Others worry about privacy. They do not want a big database to track them. In some places, like Egypt, everyone must have one. In other places, like the United States, they are optional. Drivers often use a license to prove who they are instead.

An identity document, or ID, is a tool used to prove who a person is.

If the document is a plastic card, it is often called an identity card. When the document includes a picture of your face, it is known as a photo ID.

These documents help connect a person to their own information in a computer database. This database might hold a person's full name, birth date, and home address. It may also list a person's gender, citizenship, or a special identification number. Using a unique national number is a very secure way to manage this information.

Identity documents work by linking personal details to a central record. Some countries require people to carry these documents at all times. If a person does not have an ID, other papers might work. For example, many places will accept a driver's license to verify who you are. However, some countries do not accept driver's licenses for this purpose. They might do this because those licenses do not expire or are easy to fake. Most countries around the world will accept a passport as a form of identification.

History shows that ID documents have changed a lot over many centuries. One of the earliest versions of a passport was created by King Henry V of England. He introduced the Safe Conducts Act in the year 1414. For the next 500 years, most people did not need an identity document. Photographic ID first appeared in 1876, but it was not common yet. It became widely used in the early 20th century when photos joined passports.

In 1915, both Great Britain and Australia began requiring photographic passports.

Modern technology has made identity cards much more advanced today. In 1985, the size and shape of these cards became standardized.

Some modern cards are called smart cards because they have tiny computer parts inside. These parts were standardized in 1988 to make them harder to forge.

New technology even allows cards to hold biometric information. This includes things like fingerprints, face measurements, or iris measurements. Many countries now issue electronic identity cards to their citizens.

People have many different opinions about using national identity cards. Some officials say these cards make it easier to find criminals. Others worry that large databases might hurt personal privacy or civil liberties. In some places, like Egypt, it is compulsory for citizens age 16 or older to have an ID. In other places, like the United States or Canada, they are not required for all citizens. Some people prefer using driver's licenses or even their own DNA for identification. Every person carries their own unique DNA, which is very hard to change or fake.

An identity document, often called an ID, is a formal way to prove a person's identity.

If the document is a plastic card, it is referred to as an identity card, or IC. When the document includes a photographic portrait, it is known as a photo ID.

These documents act as a link between a person and their specific data. This data is often stored in a digital database. The connection relies on personal information found on the document. This information includes a full name, birth date, and home address. It may also include gender, citizenship, or a unique identification number. Using a unique national identification number is considered the most secure method for verification.

Identity documents function by matching a physical bearer to digital records. The process involves checking details like a card number or a national ID number. In many nations, certain documents are compulsory to carry. If a specific ID is missing, other papers might serve as substitutes. For instance, many countries accept a driver's license for identity verification. However, some nations reject driver's licenses for this purpose. They may do this because those licenses do not expire or are easy to forge. Most countries worldwide will accept a passport for identification.

History shows that the need for identity documents has changed over time. One of the earliest recorded versions of a passport was the Safe Conducts Act of 1414. This was introduced by King Henry V of England. For the next 500 years, most people did not require an identity document. Photographic identification first appeared in 1876. However, it did not become widely used until the early 20th century. During this time, photographs became standard in passports and other documents. In 1915, both Great Britain and Australia began requiring photographic passports. This change followed a specific event known as the Lody spy scandal.

Modern identity documents have become highly technical through standardization. In 1985, the ISO/IEC 7810 standard set the shape and size of identity cards. Some modern versions are called smart cards. These cards contain an embedded integrated circuit, which was standardized in 1988 by ISO/IEC 7816. These circuits make the cards much harder to forge.

New technologies now allow cards to store biometric information. Biometrics are unique physical measurements. This includes fingerprints, iris measurements, or facial data. Many countries now issue electronic identity cards to manage these complex systems.

There is significant global debate regarding the use of national identity cards. Law enforcement officials often support them. They claim these cards make surveillance and the search for criminals easier. However, many people worry about privacy and civil liberties. Critics fear that centralized databases could be abused to track private lives. In the United Kingdom, a 2006 survey showed that a planned compulsory ID card was very unpopular. Many people feared the linked databases would be a security disaster. Some also worry that displaying race on an ID could lead to racial profiling.

Different countries follow very different rules for identification. According to Privacy International, possession of identity cards is compulsory in about 100 countries. In some places, people must get an ID when they reach a certain age. In Egypt, all citizens age 16 or older must have an ID card. These cards expire after 7 years. In contrast, many English-speaking countries do not mandate national ID cards. This includes Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These nations use de facto equivalents, like driver's licenses or passports, to verify identity in specific situations.

Beyond national identity, different types of cards serve specific purposes. In the United Kingdom, taxicab drivers carry ID cards for security. Construction workers may use a CSCS card to prove their safety training. In Australia, workers with children must have a Blue Card or a Working with Children Card. These are not national identity cards, but they prove specific qualifications or background checks. Some people also argue that private identification might be safer. For example, every human carries unique DNA. This is extremely hard to falsify. Some believe that using DNA or biometric phone activation might eventually replace state-issued cards.