You are here: Local Authentication API

Local Authentication API

The Local Authentication API enables the validation of credentials in iOS and Android applications. The voltmx.localAuthentication Namespace provides APIs for various authentication modes. With Biometrics authentication, users can authenticate various payments, manage sensitive data, and so on. Biometrics information is stored securely on the device and is not accessible outside.

Note: iOS supports Fingerprint and Face authentication modes of biometric authentication. Fingerprint mode is supported from iOS 8 onwards and the Face authentication is supported from iPhone X onwards. From iPhone X onwards, fingerprint mode is not supported.

For information about how to enable the Face ID feature in your Volt MX Iris application, click here. For information about how to detect whether a device supports either the Touch ID or Face ID feature, refer the getBiometryType API.

The Local Authentication API contains the voltmx.localAuthentication Namespace and the following API elements.

Function	Description
voltmx.localAuthentication.authenticate	Authenticates the user.
voltmx.localAuthentication.getBiometryType	Differentiates whether a device supports either the Touch ID or Face ID feature. This API is available from iOS 11.
voltmx.localAuthentication.cancelAuthentication	Cancels the current authentication process.
voltmx.localAuthentication.getStatusForAuthenticationMode	Returns the status of the authentication mode.

To find the mode of local authentication supported by your device, use the voltmx.localAuthentication.getBiometryType function. To find the support and usability status of biometric authentication, use the voltmx.localAuthentication.getStatusForAuthenticationMode function. You will receive a status code indicating support for the local authentication. After you get the success status code (5000), you can now authenticate the user by using the voltmx.localAuthentication.authenticate function. The authenticate()function contains a callback which conveys the status of the authentication with appropriate status and message. If you want to cancel the authentication process, you can use the voltmx.localAuthentication.cancelAuthentication function.

iOS	Android
	The deviceCredentialAllowed property is configured to false.	The deviceCredentialAllowed property is configured to true.

 

In the above illustrations, a dialog box is prompted to authenticate the user to continue further. User can choose to authenticate either by biometrics or by device credentials (PIN, Password, Pattern) by clicking the Enter Password button in iOS or the Use Pin button in Android.

In case of Android, a custom authentication flow can be triggered by configuring a negative button.

In both Android and IOS, when the voltmx.localAuthentication.authenticate API is invoked, the system UI appears. User can configure the UI with the help of config object in the authenticate API.

Users must register the biometrics at global settings, and the same secured data is accessed from application to authenticate.

Note: Android: For using local authentication APIs , the enableLocalAuthentication property must be enabled in the androidbuild.properties file.