Authentication

Authentication (from Greek: αὐθεντικός authentikos, "real, genuine", from αὐθέντης authentes, "author") is the act of proving an assertion, such as the identity of a computer system user. In contrast with identification, the act of indicating a person or thing's identity, authentication is the process of verifying that identity.[1] It might involve validating personal identity documents, verifying the authenticity of a website with a digital certificate,[2] determining the age of an artifact by carbon dating, or ensuring that a product or document is not counterfeit.

Not to be confused with Authenticity or Authorization.
ATM user authenticating himself
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