Passkeys and passwords both allow a user to authenticate, but they use fundamentally different security models. Passwords are shared secrets that users type. Passkeys use asymmetric cryptography and normally rely on a device or credential provider to protect the private key.
Passwords are transferable secrets
A password can be copied, reused, pasted into a phishing site, sent by email, or stored in an unsafe document. The server must verify a representation of the same secret the user knows.
Passkeys use public-key cryptography
With a passkey, the service stores a public key. The private key remains with the user's device or synchronized passkey provider and is used to sign an authentication challenge. The private credential is not typed into the website.
Phishing resistance
Traditional phishing succeeds by convincing a user to type a reusable password or verification code into the wrong site. Passkeys are designed to bind authentication to the legitimate service, which makes credential replay to a different site much harder.
User experience
Passwords require users to remember or retrieve text. Passkeys commonly use the device's existing unlock method, such as a PIN or biometric check. The exact experience depends on the operating system, browser, and credential provider.
Recovery and device changes
Password recovery normally uses a reset process. Passkey recovery depends on how the passkey is stored. Synchronized passkeys may follow a user's protected cloud credential account, while device-bound credentials may require registration of another device or a separate recovery method.
Business deployment considerations
Organizations need to decide which devices are permitted, whether synchronization is allowed, how lost devices are handled, how new devices are enrolled, and how support staff verify identity during recovery. Strong authentication still requires a strong lifecycle process.
Passwords will remain in mixed environments
Many organizations will operate in a hybrid model for some time. Use password managers and MFA for systems that still require passwords, while deploying phishing-resistant methods where they are supported and operationally appropriate.