What is smart card and how it works?
Sarah Martinez
Updated on January 25, 2026
A smart card is a type of pocket-sized device which looks like a credit card but has an embedded Integrated Circuit (IC) that can process data and allow the user to perform any transaction.
Which of these is a smart card?
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card (ICC or IC card) is a physical electronic authorization device, used to control access to a resource. It is typically a plastic credit card-sized card with an embedded integrated circuit (IC) chip.
Where can I use smart card?
The following are five of the most popular current applications for smart cards:
- 1) Banking & Retail. Some of the most common uses for smart cards are ATM cards, credit cards and debit cards.
- 2) Healthcare.
- 3) ID Verification & Access Control.
- 4) Mobile Communications.
- 5) Computer & Network Security.
What is smart card and its types?
Smart cards have two different types of interfaces: contact and contactless. Contact smart cards are inserted into a smart card reader, making physical contact with the reader. However, contactless smart cards have an antenna embedded inside the card that enables communication with the reader without physical contact.
Who is eligible for smart card?
Five members of the family irrespective of their age are covered. The eligibility of the workers of the unorganised sector and his family will be verified by the implementing officer. The beneficiaries will be issued a smart card – RSBY card for the purpose of identification.
What are the benefits of smart card?
The major advantages of smart cards are that they store much more information than can be stored on a magnetic-stripe card — between 10 and 100 times more; they have the capability to remotely process data by relying upon a central processing unit that actually resides on the chip; and they are more secure.
Is ATM card a smart card?
similarities between smart card and credit card In some countries, ATM or credit card may be cards that have both IC and magnetic stripe. For this kind of cards, it is still a smart card. Smart cards could be categorized into memory card and microprocessor card. ATM or credit cards should be the latter.
What is smart card give example?
Examples of smart cards Payment cards, including debit or credit cards issued by commercial credit card companies and banks. Electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards, which are used for distribution of government benefits such as the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
What is the benefit of smart ID card?
The chip contains precious data and records related to your identity and offers several security features that can help prevent identity theft. It synchronises your identity data with your biometrics (fingerprints) to ensure complete encryption and safety of the records.
What is smart card example?
Examples of smart cards Smart card applications include: Payment cards, including debit or credit cards issued by commercial credit card companies and banks. Electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards, which are used for distribution of government benefits such as the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
What do you need to know about smart cards?
A smart card is a card that is embedded with either a microprocessor and a memory chip or only a memory chip with non-programmable logic. The microprocessor card can add, delete, and otherwise manipulate information on the card, while a memory-chip card (for example, pre-paid phone cards) can only undertake a pre-defined operation.
What kind of data is stored on a smart card?
A smart card, typically a type of chip card, is a plastic card that contains an embedded computer chip–either a memory or microprocessor type–that stores and transacts data. This data is usually associated with either value, information, or both and is stored and processed within the card’s chip.
Where is the microprocessor on a smart card?
The inside of a smart card usually contains an embedded microprocessor. The microprocessor is under a gold contact pad on one side of the card. Smarts cards may have up to 8 kilobytes of RAM, 346 kilobytes of ROM, 256 kilobytes of programmable ROM, and a 16-bit microprocessor.
What is a smart card in Oracle Cloud?
Oracle Cloud Free Tier lets anyone build, test, and deploy applications on Oracle Cloud—for free. What is a Smart Card? A smart card is a card that is embedded with either a microprocessor and a memory chip or only a memory chip with non-programmable logic.