What Are the Different Types of Fingerprint Patterns?
There are three types of fingerprint patterns within what is known as the Henry Classification System, a method of differentiating fingerprint types that has endured for more than 100 years. Although every human fingerprint is unique, the Henry system breaks down the varieties into three types — the arch, the loop and the whorl. Some fingerprint experts note a fourth kind known as the composite. All the fingerprint patterns have distinct sub-categories. As a method of identifying criminals, the Henry system has largely been replaced by computer-enabled systems such as the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), which can more quickly match the ridge patterns found on fingerprints.
