Smart cards play an important role in the world of telecommunications, identification for access, banking and transportation. These cards are sometimes called integrated circuit cards for embedded in it are integrated circuits which are responsible in processing information. These cards are usually just pocket sized, usually like the size of an ordinary credit card and made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

Under smart cards are two categories namely memory cards and microprocessor cards. Memory cards hold only non-volatile memory storage components while microprocessor cards contain microprocessor components and volatile memory.

There are also two types of smart cards: the contact and contactless smart cards. Contactless smart cards function without the need of direct contact with a reader. These cards operate at various distances such as up to 10 or 50cm. Standards are followed in making these cards to ensure quality and dependability of products, such as ISO/IEC 14443 for smart cards that function up to 10 cm and ISO 15693 for up to distances of 50 cm.

Contactless smart cards are really very important at present for it adds convenience for disabled and old people in the transactions they make. These cards are teamed up with large character display for better ease.