This application provides a data processing method and an apparatus. The data processing method includes: acquiring a first frame of time-of-flight (TOF) data; processing the first frame of TOF data into a TOF image; and performing face recognition by using the first frame of TOF image to obtain a recognition result. When TOF data is used for face recognition, higher security can be achieved. In addition, the first frame of TOF image is used for face recognition immediately after the first frame of TOF image is obtained, so that the execution speed is high. Because the TOF data is less affected by light, a high-quality TOF image can be obtained even if the first frame of TOF data is used, and therefore, the recognition accuracy is high.