Smart card

A smart card is a card (such as a credit card, transit fare card, etc.) which includes embedded circuitry, so that it is capable of data storage and processing, permitting more sophisticated functionality than magnetic stripe cards and other card types that merely contain passive data (magnetic, optical, etc.) that must be processed in outside devices.

Contactless smart cards are readable wirelessly through an embedded device that syncs up with outside devices. Other smart cards must be contacted by the outside device to establish a connection.

Links

 * Wikipedia article
 * Open Directory Project: Smartcards