Which term best describes an authentication factor based on possession of a physical object like a card?

Which term best describes an authentication factor based on possession of a physical object like a card?

• A. Biometrics
• B. Access badges
• C. Password
• D. Multi-factor

Answer: (B)

Authentication based on possession of a physical object is the “something you have” factor. Access badges fit this concept perfectly: you carry a badge and present it to a reader to prove you possess the credential. This contrasts with biometrics, which is based on who you are, and passwords, which rely on what you know. Multi-factor describes using more than one type of factor together (for example, a badge plus a PIN or biometric), but it’s about combining factors, not the specific possession-based type itself. So the term that describes this kind of authentication factor—the physical object you carry—is access badges.

Authentication based on possession of a physical object is the “something you have” factor. Access badges fit this concept perfectly: you carry a badge and present it to a reader to prove you possess the credential. This contrasts with biometrics, which is based on who you are, and passwords, which rely on what you know. Multi-factor describes using more than one type of factor together (for example, a badge plus a PIN or biometric), but it’s about combining factors, not the specific possession-based type itself. So the term that describes this kind of authentication factor—the physical object you carry—is access badges.