The FIDO ("Fast IDentity Online") Alliance is an open industry association launched in February 2013 whose stated mission is to develop and promote authentication standards that "help reduce the world’s over-reliance on passwords".

[1] FIDO addresses the lack of interoperability among devices that use strong authentication and reduces the problems users face creating and remembering multiple usernames and passwords.

FIDO supports a full range of authentication technologies, including biometrics such as fingerprint and iris scanners, voice and facial recognition, as well as existing solutions and communications standards, such as Trusted Platform Modules (TPM), USB security tokens, embedded Secure Elements (eSE), smart cards, and near-field communication (NFC).

[2] The USB security token device may be used to authenticate using a simple password (e.g. four-digit PIN) or by pressing a button.

[2] Both protocols define a common interface at the client for whatever local authentication method the user exercises.

[6] FIDO2 is based upon previous work done by the FIDO Alliance, in particular the Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) authentication standard.