The use of fingerprint authentication as a biometric technique for secure authentication and access control has gained significant traction in recent years. This article presents an overview of the technology used for fingerprint identification, its history, as well as the fundamental components that make up a fingerprint recognition system. We also go through the many approaches to fingerprint identification techniques and algorithms, such as the minutiae-based approach, the ridge feature-based approach, and the pattern recognition-based approach. All of these are utilized in the process of authenticating fingerprints. In addition, we emphasize the limitations of fingerprint authentication as well as the security risks that are linked with it, as well as alternative methods to overcome these constraints.