user78374: I am currently planning a thesis that involve scanning fingerprints and storing the data in a database. The problem is that I do not know if it is possible for me/us to get the fingerprint data or variables scanned by the fingerprint scanner.
I tried searching on google, of course, but I don't see any information on how to display the data in a form such as binary.  I'm not sure if I can extract the data from the Arduino then store it in a website/database (---which to be fair, since fingerprints can be confidential, I understand if some articles don't provide a sample.)
Is it possible to get and extract the fingerprint scan data? For example, converting the scanned data in to a binary representation (011010101 etc.)

user52659: Echoing my comment on SO with more information:
Commercial fingerprint sensors like this one do local store and compare and do not expose the actual image or binary signature. What they transmit to the microcontroller are ID's and match success.
If you need the binary data of the image itself you may be able to write your own image processing algorithm, perhaps using machine learning, and use a simple video camera connected to a microcontroller that in turn will send the captured image to your web server for processing.
Arduino can be programmed to capture still images and transfer a bitmap file to a server, such devices (microcontroller and cameras) are widely available.

user71575: There is a discussion thread on Quora discussing finger print scanners that provide raw output. The Quora author recommends a  Futronic device which comes with an API for raw image collection. They also discussed NeuroTechnology which apparently also has a downloadable image database. Looking at the neurotechnology website they also have some interesting SDK options. These of course all give you an image not the binary output you described.
It strikes me that a binary encoded output would likely be the result of a recognition algorithm, or a resultant / generated security key. Not sure that is what you intended by your question?
There are a mass of academic papers on open finger print scanning algorithms.
I did a bit of google searching for people capturing raw data from Arduino compatible devices. Didn’t find anyone saying it was easy. Please post back here if you make progress.
Hope this helps get you started.

user69485: I'm a software engineer that works with biometric sensors. The answer is, it will vary greatly depending on the scanner you've chosen. Some hardware solutions have built-in subject enrollment and database matching; some simply collect an image and return it in an appropriate format- sometimes an image file (e.g. PNG), or a template file (a binary representation of a subject and/or their fingerprint(s)).
For you, I highly recommend avoiding the pain of interfacing with an Arduino at such a low level, and use a Raspberry Pi or other full computer to write a collection program with your vendor's SDK. Linux is supported by all the major players I've worked with, and that will drastically ease integration with whatever database or website you have in mind. Many vendors have built-in enrollment, storage, and matching examples as part of their SDKs that will help you get up and going in short order
EDIT: As this is an Arduino SE, I realize I should give a microcontroller-friendly answer as well. There are indeed scanners like this. It does templating and matching on board if I understand correctly, and the provided library does indeed allow you to transfer those templates over serial. Granted, you still have to get that data from your Arduino to a computer of some sort, so I still think a Pi is the shorter putt ;)

78374: <p>I am currently planning a thesis that involve scanning fingerprints and storing the data in a database. The problem is that I do not know if it is possible for me/us to get the fingerprint data or variables scanned by the fingerprint scanner.</p>
<p>I tried searching on google, of course, but I don't see any information on how to display the data in a form such as binary.  I'm not sure if I can extract the data from the Arduino then store it in a website/database (---which to be fair, since fingerprints can be confidential, I understand if some articles don't provide a sample.)</p>
<p>Is it possible to get and extract the fingerprint scan data? For example, converting the scanned data in to a binary representation (011010101 etc.)</p>
 52659: <p>Echoing my comment on SO with more information:</p>
<p>Commercial fingerprint sensors like <a href="https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32847055230.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this one</a> do local store and compare and do not expose the actual image or binary signature. What they transmit to the microcontroller are ID's and match success.</p>
<p>If you need the binary data of the image itself you may be able to write your own image processing algorithm, perhaps using machine learning, and use a simple video camera connected to a microcontroller that in turn will send the captured image to your web server for processing.</p>
<p>Arduino can be programmed to capture still images and transfer a bitmap file to a server, such devices (microcontroller and cameras) are widely available.</p>
 71575: <p>There is a discussion thread on <a href="https://www.quora.com/Are-there-any-fingerprint-scanners-that-provide-raw-images-as-output" rel="noreferrer">Quora</a> discussing finger print scanners that provide raw output. The Quora author recommends a  <a href="https://www.futronic-tech.com/pro-detail.php?pro_id=1535" rel="noreferrer">Futronic</a> device which comes with an API for raw image collection. They also discussed <a href="https://www.neurotechnology.com/verifinger.html" rel="noreferrer">NeuroTechnology</a> which apparently also has a downloadable image database. Looking at the neurotechnology website they also have some interesting SDK options. These of course all give you an image not the binary output you described.</p>
<p>It strikes me that a binary encoded output would likely be the result of a recognition algorithm, or a resultant / generated security key. Not sure that is what you intended by your question?</p>
<p>There are a <a href="https://scholar.google.com.au/scholar?hl=en&amp;as_sdt=0%2C5&amp;q=open%20fingerprint%20scanning%20algorithm&amp;btnG=" rel="noreferrer">mass</a> of academic papers on open finger print scanning algorithms.</p>
<p>I did a bit of google searching for people capturing raw data from Arduino compatible devices. Didn’t find anyone saying it was easy. Please post back here if you make progress.</p>
<p>Hope this helps get you started.</p>
 69485: <p>I'm a software engineer that works with biometric sensors. The answer is, it will vary <strong>greatly</strong> depending on the scanner you've chosen. Some hardware solutions have built-in subject enrollment and database matching; some simply collect an image and return it in an appropriate format- sometimes an image file (e.g. PNG), or a template file (a binary representation of a subject and/or their fingerprint(s)).</p>
<p>For you, I <strong>highly</strong> recommend avoiding the pain of interfacing with an Arduino at such a low level, and use a Raspberry Pi or other full computer to write a collection program with your vendor's SDK. Linux is supported by all the major players I've worked with, and that will drastically ease integration with whatever database or website you have in mind. Many vendors have built-in enrollment, storage, and matching examples as part of their SDKs that will help you get up and going in short order</p>
<p><strong>EDIT</strong>: As this is an Arduino SE, I realize <strong>I should give a microcontroller-friendly answer as well</strong>. There are indeed <a href="https://www.adafruit.com/product/4690" rel="noreferrer">scanners like this</a>. It does templating and matching on board if I understand correctly, and the provided library does indeed allow you to transfer those templates over serial. Granted, you still have to get that data from your Arduino to a computer of some sort, so I still think a Pi is the shorter putt ;)</p>
