mag

A magnetic stripe card stores data on a magnetic band attached to the back of the card. Users swipe the card through a reader to transfer information instantly. Banks, hotels, and businesses rely on these cards for transactions, access control, and identification. The stripe contains three tracks that hold different types of data. Machines read or encode the information using magnetic heads. People often carry these cards for debit, credit, or membership purposes. Manufacturers coat the stripe with magnetic material during production. Users should protect the stripe from scratches and magnets. Simple, reliable, and fast, magnetic stripe cards remain widely used.