Distinguishing between IC cards, barcode cards, and magnetic cards

Distinguishing between IC cards, barcode cards, and magnetic cards

    Many people think that IC cards, barcode cards, and magnetic cards are the same and have the same functions, but that's not the case. These three types of cards are quite different. So, let's take a look at what IC cards, barcode cards, and magnetic cards are.

　　1.IC card(Integrated Circuit Card)
　　IC cards stand for Integrated Circuit cards. They embed integrated circuit chips onto plastic substrates and utilize the storage-ability of integrated circuits to store, read, and modify information on the chip.
　　The concept of IC cards was proposed in the early 1970s, and over the past 40 years, they have been widely used in many fields such as finance, transportation, communications, healthcare, and identity verification.
　　According to the form of data transmission with the external world, IC cards are divided into contactless and contactless types. The metal contacts of the contact IC card chip are exposed and visible to the naked eye. Through the contacts on the chip, information can be exchanged and read and written with the outside world. Most IC cards currently used fall into this category. The chips of contactless ICs are all sealed within the card base, with no exposed parts. Information is exchanged through radio waves or electromagnetic sensing, typically used in access control, bus tolls, subway fares, and other situations where 'a flash of passes' is required.
　　According to the type of integrated circuit within the card, IC cards can be divided into memory cards, logic encryption cards, and CPU cards (smart cards). Memory cards are suitable for systems that use only IC cards as data transfer media or systems with software encryption that do not require tampering, and are relatively affordable; Logical encryption cards control card reading and writing by setting the password area on the card. They are moderately priced and currently the most widely used; The integrated circuit of a CPU card includes a microprocessor, which can perform data computation and information processing on its own. It can also use random numbers and keys for mutual verification between the card and the device, offering high security. Although the price is slightly higher, its application prospects remain promising. Currently, the financial card planned by the People's Bank of China, the organization code certificate card planned by the State Administration of Quality and Technical Supervision, and the social security card planned by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security all use contact CPU cards.
　　IC cards have many advantages that magnetic cards and barcode cards cannot match: large storage capacity, several to dozens of times that of magnetic cards; High security, with anti-counterfeiting and tamper-proof capabilities; Can be used offline, offering flexible applications. At the same time, they also have drawbacks such as high price, weak anti-static and ultraviolet resistance.

　　2.Barcode cards (Bar Card)
　　Barcode cards record information as barcodes composed of regularly arranged bars, blanks, and their corresponding characters. Common barcode symbols are printed with black bars and white spaces. When light shines on the barcode symbols, the black and white bars create strong contrast, allowing the information to be read using the different reflectivities of the bars and blanks in the light.
　　Barcode cards are divided into one-dimensional and two-dimensional types. One-dimensional barcodes are commonly used; for example, the barcode on everyday product packaging is a one-dimensional code. Its information storage capacity is small, only one code can be stored, and data from the computer network is retrieved through this code. QR codes have developed in recent years. They can store more information in limited spaces, including text, images, fingerprints, signatures, etc., and can be used independently of computers.
　　Barcode cards are easy to produce; ordinary barcodes can be printed or copied according to certain requirements, and the cost is relatively low. However, their reading equipment (especially QR code reading equipment) is relatively expensive. Unlike magnetic cards and IC cards, barcode cards cannot rewrite the information. Additionally, their poor security performance and inconsistent standards limit their application.

　　3.Magnetic card(Magnetic Card)
　　Magnetic cards use liquid magnetic materials or magnetic strips as information carriers, with the liquid magnetic material coated onto the card or a magnetic strip about 6-14mm wide pressed onto the card. There are three magnetic strips on each magnetic strip: the first two are read-only tracks, and the third is read/write tracks, such as recording book balances. Magnetic cards are relatively simple and easy to read and write information, convenient to use, and low cost, which led to early development and entry into multiple application fields, such as prepaid telephone cards, paid cards, reservation cards, tickets, debit cards, credit cards, and more. However, compared with later IC cards, they have the following shortcomings: small information storage capacity, magnetic stripes are easy to read and forge, and confidentiality is poor, thus requiring support from computer networks or central databases.