The optical method is one of the most common methods. At the heart of the optical scanner, a CCD-Camera (charged coupled device) is used. A CCD-Camera is simply an array of light sensitive diodes called photosites. In general the finger will be placed on a glass plate and the CCD camera takes the picture. The CCD system has an array of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) to illuminate the ridges and valleys of the finger.

The advantage of optical systems is the very low price; the disadvantage of optical systems is that they are quite easy to fake. Another problem are latend fingerprints, which are remaining fingerprints from the previous finger that was placed on the sensor surface.

Leading manufacturers of optical fingerpint scanners are Delsy, Dermalog, Smiths Heimann Biometrics (spin-off of Jenoptik / Rheinmetall)