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The Daily Insight Hub

Which of this is a smart card?

Author

Andrew Campbell

Updated on February 08, 2026

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.

What are the types of smart cards?

Types of Smart Cards:

  • Contact Smart Card: This type of smart cards are embedded with electrical contacts which are used to connect to the card reader where the card is inserted.
  • Contact less Smart Card:
  • Dual-interface cards:
  • Memory based smart card:
  • Microprocessor based smart card:
  • Hybrid smart card:

What is a true smart card?

A smart card is a single embedded chip including CPU and memory; the only means of communicating with the outside world is through a serial link. New communication architecture has been studied for both the terminal and the card. Through this stack a smart card shares the network resources located in the terminal.

What are the two types of smart card?

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.

Which is the best use for a smart card?

Some of the most common uses for smart cards are ATM cards, credit cards and debit cards. Many of these cards are “chip and PIN” cards that require the customer to supply a four- to six-digit PIN number, while others are known as “chip and signature” cards, needing only a signature for verification.

What are the two types of smart card operating systems?

The two primary types of smart card operating systems are (1) fixed file structure and (2) dynamic application system. As with all smartcard types, the selection of a card operating system depends on the application that the card is intended for.

What are the different types of smart card authentication?

Introduction to Smart Card Authentication There are several methods that exist for authentication systems like badge or card system; bio metric data based systems like iris pattern or fingerprint systems; username and password- based systems. However, these methods are easily prone to sophisticated attacks.

How are smart cards different from memory cards?

Smart cards are classified based on their components, card interfaces and card Operating systems. Depending on the card components, they are classified into memory cards and chip cards. Chip card is more expensive as it contains a microprocessor and also an EEPROM for application data, ROM for data storage and RAM for the processor.