Cards play a major role in modern life. They can denote membership, prove identity, serve as a physical record, or provide access to financial data. A long time ago, most people had a drivers license and maybe a charge card made of plastic and everything else was paper or cardboard. They may have been laminated to make them more durable, but they were a far cry from the host of smart cards that most people have in their wallets and purses today.

A smart card contains data that has been embedded in a card, either in an electronic chip or stripe. These cards can be either contact (requiring the card to make physical contact with a reader) or contactless (which only need to be within a certain distance of a reader to be scanned).

The advantages of these cards is that they can contain huge amounts of information in a small card. They also protect privacy as the data is not printed in visible type on the card, but requires a scanner to access the information — and that scanner usually needs to have the correct software to interpret the type of data embedded in a given card. In addition to convenience and security, the cards are extremely versatile. They can be programmed to embed information about identity, membership, and even financial data and purchase history. They are used as electronic door keys or ID badges at offices, as discount cards by countless retailers, and to provide access and services to members of clubs and organizations. They are also used as drivers licenses, bank cards, and credit cards.