Orientation map 35 Singular points 36 3 7 a b s t r a c t 38 This paper reviews the fingerprint classification literature looking at the problem from a double perspec-39 tive. We first deal with feature extraction methods, including the different models considered for singular 40 point detection and for orientation map extraction. Then, we focus on the different learning models con-41 sidered to build the classifiers used to label new fingerprints. Taxonomies and classifications for the fea-42 ture extraction, singular point detection, orientation extraction and learning methods are presented. A 43 critical view of the existing literature have led us to present a discussion on the existing methods and 44 their drawbacks such as difficulty in their reimplementation, lack of details or major differences in their 45 evaluations procedures. On this account, an experimental analysis of the most relevant methods is car-46 ried out in the second part of this paper, and a new method based on their combination is presented.47