Passkey
A sign-in credential based on public-key cryptography that lets a device prove account access without sending a reusable password to the service.
The useful mental model.
Start with the part that changes what you actually do or expect when you meet this concept in everyday digital life.
What it protects
Understand which layer this control actually protects: the account, the device, the browser session, a permission, or the network.
What it does not mean
Digital security features are easy to overestimate. The useful question is where the protection stops and which risks remain outside it.
What connects to this?
Digital life is a system. Follow the neighboring identity, data, design, security or business layer instead of stopping at one definition.
Password
A secret used to prove control of an account, most safely treated as unique to that account rather than reused across services.
Understand it →system conceptDevice Ecosystem
A family of devices and services designed to share identity, files, messages, settings or accessories with less setup between them.
Understand it →device security conceptBiometric Unlock
Using a local biometric match such as fingerprint or face recognition to unlock a device or authorize use of a protected credential.
Understand it →authentication conceptMulti-Factor Authentication
A sign-in process that requires more than one form of evidence, reducing reliance on a password alone.
Understand it →Check the underlying references.
G7 prioritizes primary technical documentation, public-interest institutions and strong research. Product-specific behavior can change, so current service documentation remains important.