Authentication
The requirement to show that evidence is what the offering party claims it is.
Governing rule: Fed. R. Evid. 901
Plain-English definition
Authentication is the evidence rule that asks whether a document, photo, recording, text, email, object, or data file is genuine enough to be considered. The proponent does not have to prove everything about it at the threshold, but must provide enough support for a reasonable juror to find it authentic.
How it works
Authentication can come from witness testimony, distinctive characteristics, metadata, chain of custody, comparison, public records, or self-authenticating categories.
Why it matters
Digital evidence makes authentication central. Screenshots, texts, and social posts can be powerful only if the proponent connects them to the right source.