Skip to main content

📖 Glossary

A comprehensive reference of PasskeyMe terminology and concepts to ensure consistent understanding across all documentation.

🔑 Authentication Concepts​

Passkey​

A cryptographic credential that replaces passwords, using public-key cryptography. Passkeys are phishing-resistant, unique per website, and stored securely on user devices.

WebAuthn (Web Authentication)​

The web standard that enables passkey authentication in browsers. PasskeyMe uses WebAuthn for secure, passwordless authentication.

Authentication Ceremony​

The cryptographic process of creating or using a passkey. Includes:

  • Registration Ceremony: Creating a new passkey
  • Authentication Ceremony: Using an existing passkey to sign in

Relying Party (RP)​

Your application or website that relies on PasskeyMe for authentication. In PasskeyMe context, your app is the relying party.

🏗️ PasskeyMe Architecture​

Inline Components​

React components that embed authentication directly into your application UI, providing full control over styling and user experience.

  • Primary approach for React applications
  • Examples: PasskeymeAuthPanel, PasskeymeOAuthButton

Hosted Authentication Pages​

Pre-built authentication pages hosted by PasskeyMe that handle the complete authentication flow.

  • Fallback approach for frameworks without SDK support
  • Accessed via redirect or popup

Framework-Specific SDKs (High-Level)​

Complete authentication solutions designed for specific frontend frameworks.

  • React SDK: Full-featured with inline components ✅ Available
  • React Native SDK: 🚧 Coming soon
  • Angular SDK: 🚧 Coming soon
  • Ionic SDK: 🚧 Coming soon

JavaScript SDK (Mid-Level)​

Framework-agnostic SDK for web applications, primarily used with hosted authentication pages.

  • Works with any JavaScript framework
  • Bridge to hosted authentication pages
  • Used while awaiting framework-specific SDKs

Low-Level SDKs​

Platform-specific SDKs that handle only passkey ceremonies (no OAuth or hosted pages).

  • Web SDK: Browser WebAuthn implementation
  • iOS SDK: Native iOS passkey support
  • Android SDK: Native Android passkey support
  • Ionic Plugin: Capacitor-based passkey support

🔗 Integration Methods​

OAuth Integration​

Social authentication using providers like Google, GitHub, and Facebook.

  • Supported in React SDK inline components
  • Available in hosted authentication pages
  • Automatic passkey registration after OAuth

Smart Login​

PasskeyMe's intelligent authentication flow that:

  1. Checks for existing passkeys
  2. Falls back to OAuth if no passkeys available
  3. Automatically registers passkeys after OAuth sign-in

Progressive Enhancement​

Starting with basic OAuth authentication and enhancing with passkeys over time as users return to your application.

🛠️ Technical Components​

PasskeymeAuthPanel​

The primary React component providing a complete authentication interface.

  • Supports multiple OAuth providers
  • Handles passkey registration and authentication
  • Fully customizable styling and theming
  • Recommended for React applications

PasskeymeOAuthButton​

Individual OAuth provider buttons for fine-grained control.

  • Per-provider customization
  • Event handling for custom flows
  • Used when building custom authentication interfaces

App ID​

Your unique PasskeyMe application identifier used to configure authentication settings and scope permissions.

Redirect URI​

The URL where users are sent after completing authentication, used for OAuth callback handling.

🔒 Security Concepts​

Token-Based Authentication​

PasskeyMe uses JWT tokens for maintaining authentication state:

  • Access tokens: Short-lived for API requests
  • Refresh tokens: Long-lived for token renewal
  • Automatic token management in SDKs

Cross-Origin Authentication​

PasskeyMe handles authentication across different domains while maintaining security:

  • Secure token exchange
  • Domain validation
  • CORS configuration

Credential Storage​

How passkeys are stored and managed:

  • Platform authenticators: Built into devices (Touch ID, Face ID, Windows Hello)
  • Cross-platform authenticators: External security keys
  • Sync: Some passkeys sync across user devices

📱 Platform Support​

Supported Platforms​

  • Web: All modern browsers with WebAuthn support
  • iOS: iOS 16+ with platform authenticator support
  • Android: Android 9+ with FIDO2 support
  • Desktop: Windows Hello, macOS Touch ID/Face ID

Framework Compatibility​

  • React: Full SDK with inline components ✅
  • React Native: SDK in development 🚧
  • Angular/Vue/Svelte: JavaScript SDK via hosted pages
  • Ionic: Plugin available for Capacitor apps

🎯 Developer Experience Terms​

Quick Start​

Framework-specific getting started guides designed for immediate integration success.

  • React Quick Start: Primary guide using inline components
  • JavaScript Quick Start: For other frameworks using hosted pages

Developer Decision Path​

Guided approach to choosing the right PasskeyMe integration method based on:

  • Framework availability
  • Control vs simplicity needs
  • Styling requirements
  • Integration timeline

Demo-Driven Documentation​

Documentation approach using real, working code examples from live demo applications:

📊 Status Indicators​

Throughout PasskeyMe documentation, you'll see these status indicators:

  • ✅ Available: Feature is production-ready and fully supported
  • 🚧 Coming Soon: Feature is in active development
  • 📋 Planned: Feature is planned for future release
  • ⚠️ Beta: Feature is available but may have limitations
  • 🔧 Maintenance: Feature is being updated or improved

🔄 Migration Terms​

Progressive Migration​

Gradually moving from JavaScript SDK + hosted pages to framework-specific SDKs:

  • Start with JavaScript SDK for immediate functionality
  • Migrate to React SDK when available
  • Maintain existing user sessions during transition

Backward Compatibility​

All PasskeyMe authentication methods remain supported:

  • Existing JavaScript SDK integrations continue working
  • Hosted pages remain available as fallback
  • User passkeys work across all integration methods

🔗 Related Documentation​

This glossary is maintained to ensure consistent terminology across all PasskeyMe documentation. If you notice inconsistencies or missing terms, please let us know.