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A smart card, sometimes called a chip card or an integrated circuit card (ICC) is a plastic card with a built-in microprocessor, typically used for electronic processes such as financial transactions and personal identification.

Smart cards are most often the size of a credit card, although other sizes are available. Smart cards contain a tamper-resistant security system. They are managed by an administration system which securely shares information and configuration settings with the cards. (For example, a given bank's smart cards operate on the bank's administration system.)

Smart cards communicate with external services using card-reading devices. These can be contact devices such as ATMs and store chip readers, or contactless devices such as door security scanners.

• Contact smart cards have a contact area of approximately 1 square centimeter, which contains several gold-plated contact pads. These pads provide electrical connectivity when inserted into a reader.

• Contactless smart cards communicate with and are powered by the reader through RF induction technology (RFID). These cards require only proximity to an antenna to communicate.

• Hybrid smart cards implement contactless and contact interfaces on a single card.

Some common uses for smart cards include:

• Banking

• Identification (personal, medical, school, employee, etc.)

• Building security

• Store loyalty cards

• Public transit

For more information about smart card properties, refer to Encoder Property Page.