Smart Card

A small electronic device about the size of a credit card that contains electronic memory, and possibly an embedded integrated circuit (IC). Smart cards containing an IC are sometimes called Integrated Circuit Cards (ICCs).

Smart cards are used for a variety of purposes, including:

  • Storing a patient’s medical records
  • Storing digital cash
  • Generating network IDs (similar to a token)
  • To use a smart card, either to pull information from it or add data to it, you need a smart card reader, a small device into which you insert the smart card.

    Webopedia Staff
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