A small electronic device about the size of a credit card that contains electronic memory, and possibly an embedded integrated circuit (IC). Smart cards containing an IC are sometimes called Integrated Circuit Cards (ICCs).

Smart cards are used for a variety of purposes, including:

v Storing a patient’s medical records

v Storing digital cash

v Generating network IDs (similar to a token)

To use a smart card, either to pull information from it or add data to it, you need a smart card reader, a small device into which you insert the smart card.