ISO/IEC 19794-8:2006规定了基于模式的骨骼指纹识别数据交换的交换格式。数据格式是通用的，因为它可以应用于涉及自动指纹识别的广泛应用领域。 ISO/IEC 19794-8:2006中定义的交换格式描述了小型数据记录中指纹的所有特征。因此，它允许提取光谱信息（方向、频率、相位等）和特征（细节、核心、脊线计数等）。像平移和旋转这样的转换也可以通过本文定义的格式进行调节。 ISO/IEC 19794-8:2006支持低成本、覆盖范围有限、动态范围或分辨率有限的商用指纹传感器的普及。因此，它定义了一种数据记录，可用于在各种存储介质（包括但不限于便携式设备和智能卡）上存储生物特征信息。

ISO/IEC 19794-8:2006 specifies the interchange format for the exchange of pattern-based skeletal fingerprint recognition data. The data format is generic, in that it may be applied and used in a wide range of application areas where automated fingerprint recognition is involved. The exchange format defined in ISO/IEC 19794-8:2006 describes all characteristics of a fingerprint in a small data record. Thus it allows for the extraction of both spectral information (orientation, frequency, phase, etc.) and features (minutiae, core, ridge count, etc.). Transformations like translation and rotation can also be accommodated by the format defined herein. ISO/IEC 19794-8:2006 supports the proliferation of low-cost commercial fingerprint sensors with limited coverage, dynamic range, or resolution. Thus it defines a data record that can be used to store biometric information on a variety a storage media (including, but not limited to, portable devices and smart cards).