Rule 901 of the Federal Rules of Evidence defines authentication as the process of presenting evidence to demonstrate that an item of evidence is what it is claimed to be. It is a foundational requirement to establish the genuineness and reliability of evidence before it can be admitted in court. The rule states that authentication can be accomplished through various means, such as testimony of a witness who has personal knowledge of the item, the use of distinctive characteristics, comparison with other authenticated items, expert opinion, or other methods provided by law. By satisfying the authentication requirement, parties ensure that the evidence is trustworthy and properly attributed to its source, thus enhancing the credibility and admissibility of the evidence during legal proceedings.
I hope this helped!
~~~Harsha~~~