Biometric Signatures on Android

BiometricSignatureData is “real-world information” that can be attached to a digital signature. This information includes things like whether or not the signature was created with a stylus, the size of the signee’s finger, and the timing and pressure information that was collected while writing the signature. Ultimately, this data can be used to create solutions that provide a higher grade of security than traditional digital signatures do. A digital signature can only contain biometric data if an ink signature was used to create it.

Creating Biometric Data

You can create a BiometricSignatureData instance using its Builder. All values of the biometric data are optional and can be left out. Once created, the BiometricSignatureData is immutable:

val biometricData = BiometricSignatureData.Builder()
	.setInputMethod(BiometricSignatureData.InputMethod.FINGER)
	.setPressurePoints(listOf(0.4f, 0.1f, 0.94f, 0.6f))
	.build()

final BiometricSignatureData biometricData = new BiometricSignatureData.Builder()
	.setInputMethod(BiometricSignatureData.InputMethod.FINGER)
	.setPressurePoints(Arrays.asList(new Float[]{ 0.4f, 0.1f, 0.94f, 0.6f }))
	.build();

💡 Tip: BiometricSignatureData is a Parcelable; this allows it to be passed around activities or saved to your instance state.

Collecting Biometric Data

When a user creates a Signature using the SignaturePickerFragment, the signature will also hold BiometricSignatureData that was collected during the creation of the signature. You can retrieve this data using signature.getBiometricData():

// Retrieve the biometric data that was collected during signature creation.
val biometricData = signature.biometricData

// Retrieve the biometric data that was collected during signature creation.
final BiometricSignatureData biometricData = signature.getBiometricData();

Digitally Signing with Biometric Data

To add biometric data to a digital signature, pass it to your Signer during the signing process. The Signer will automatically verify the biometric data and attach it to the signature:

val biometricData = signature.biometricData
// Simply pass in `BiometricSignatureData` as an extra argument.
signer.signFormField(
	formField,
	biometricData,
	outputFile,
	object : Signer.OnSigningCompleteCallback() {
		override fun onSigningFailed(ex: Exception) {
			// Handle signing errors here...
		}

		override fun onSigningCompleted() {
			// The document was successfully signed!
		}
	})
})

final BiometricSignatureData biometricData = signature.getBiometricData();
// Simply pass in `BiometricSignatureData as` an extra argument.
signer.signFormField(
	formField,
	biometricData,
	destination,
	new Signer.OnSigningCompleteCallback() {
		@Override
		public void onSigningFailed(Exception ex) {
			// Handle signing errors here...
		}

		@Override
		public void onSigningCompleted() {
			// The document was successfully signed!
		}
	}
);