Fingerprinting is a forensic science technique used to identify individuals based on the unique patterns of ridges and valleys on their fingertips. These patterns are formed during fetal development and remain unchanged throughout a person's lifetime, making fingerprints a reliable form of identification.
The process of fingerprinting involves taking inked impressions of a person's fingertips and analyzing the patterns using specialized software or by comparing them to a database of known prints. Fingerprint analysis can be used in criminal investigations to link suspects to crime scenes or to identify victims, as well as in non-criminal applications such as background checks and security clearances.
Fingerprinting is considered a highly accurate and reliable method of identification, with a very low rate of false positives. It is widely used by law enforcement agencies around the world and has been instrumental in solving countless crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice.