Note: Many topics at this site are reduced versions of the text in "The Encyclopedia of Networking and Telecommunications." Search results will not be as extensive as a search of the book's CD-ROM.

A smart card is a card about the size of a credit card that can store information and, in most cases, contains a microprocessor that can perform some activities as programmed by the card's issuer. A phone card is an example of a simple smart card. It allocates a specific amount of time for phone calls and keeps track of usage. Smart cards may also track digital cash. A more "intelligent" smart card may run a relatively sophisticated program.