What Is an Integrated Circuit Card?
An integrated circuit card (IC card), also known as a smart card, is a card embedded with integrated circuits (ICs) that records information (data) and performs computations.
IC cards are categorized into two types: contact and contactless. Contact IC cards necessitate physical contact with a reader/writer for data read/write operations and find applications in cash cards and credit cards. On the other hand, contactless IC cards use electromagnetic waves for data transfer without requiring direct contact with a reader/writer, serving in electronic money systems and IC transit cards.
IC cards comprise components such as microchips, memory, and antennas. The microchip, acting as the CPU, manages data processing and encryption. Memory is allocated for storing user-related information and encryption keys. Antennas facilitate data communication in contactless IC cards.