The ID scanner served as a tool for bounty hunters, enabling them to pinpoint and recognize prospective individuals of interest.
Attached to the helmet of the Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett was an ID scanner. His associate, Rozatta, would send bounty specifics to the scanner while Jango was actively pursuing assignments. This process facilitated the scanner's ability to identify individuals with bounties on their heads. Upon scanning a target, the ID scanner presented details concerning the bounty, such as their name, gender, species, known associates, most recent whereabouts, the monetary value of the reward, the conditions of the bounty (dead or alive), the reason for the bounty, and the identity of the individual or group that issued the bounty.
The video game Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, developed by LucasArts, marked the initial appearance of the ID scanner. Within the game's narrative, Jango Fett utilized the device to identify characters who had bounties placed on them.