Smart Card Glossary
Comprehensive glossary of smart card terms, protocols, standards, and technical concepts.
Protocol
APDU
Communication unit between card and reader.
ATR
Initial response from card after power-on.
T=0
Character-oriented smart card protocol.
T=1
Block-oriented smart card protocol.
AID
Unique identifier for card applications.
PPS
Card-reader parameter negotiation.
RID
First 5 bytes of AID identifying provider.
PIX
Application-specific AID suffix.
SWP
Single-wire link between SIM and NFC controller.
APDU Response Codes
Two-byte status codes in APDU responses.
Secure Messaging
Cryptographic protection of APDU command/response pairs.
Security
Secure Element
Tamper-resistant hardware for secure operations.
Common Criteria
International IT security evaluation standard.
EAL
Security evaluation depth rating (1-7).
HSM
Physical device for key management.
TEE
Isolated secure execution environment.
Protection Profile
Security requirements document for CC.
SPA/DPA
Power analysis side-channel attacks.
Side-Channel Attack
Attack via physical information leakage.
Fault Injection
Physical attack inducing errors to bypass security.
Key Diversification
Deriving unique per-card keys from a master key.
Card Verifiable Certificate
Compact certificate format for eID/ePassport smart cards.
Hardware
Contact Pad
Gold electrical contacts on card surface.
EEPROM
Non-volatile card memory for data.
Flash Memory
Fast non-volatile memory for modern cards.
Crypto Coprocessor
Dedicated crypto hardware on chip.
Dual-Interface Module
Single chip supporting both contact and contactless interfaces.
Card Body
Plastic substrate forming the card physical structure.
Chip-on-Flex
Die-on-flex packaging for ultra-thin smart card modules.
ROM
Permanent mask-programmed OS memory on chip.
Software
Application
EMV
Global chip payment card standard.
eSIM
Programmable embedded SIM chip.
SIM
Smart card for mobile network authentication.
iSIM
SIM integrated into device SoC.
RSP
Over-the-air SIM profile management.
ePassport
Passport with embedded contactless chip.
BAC
ePassport security using MRZ data.
PACE
Strong ePassport authentication protocol.
Loyalty Program Card
Smart card for retail reward points and loyalty schemes.
Healthcare Smart Card
Smart card for patient identity and health insurance data.
Digital Tachograph
EU-mandated driver-hours recording smart card for trucks.
Electronic Toll Collection
Contactless smart card for automated highway toll payment.
Standard
Personalization
Identity
Biometric
Match-On-Card
Biometric matching performed inside the smart card chip.
Biometric Template
Mathematical representation of biometric data stored on card.
FAR/FRR
Error rate metrics for biometric authentication accuracy.
Liveness Detection
Anti-spoofing verification that biometric input is from a live person.
Fingerprint Sensor Module
Sensor embedded in smart card for fingerprint capture.
Biometric Enrollment
Initial capture and storage of biometric data onto a smart card.
Iris Recognition
Eye pattern recognition used in ePassport and ID smart cards.
Biometric Payment Card
Payment card with built-in fingerprint sensor replacing PIN.
CBEFF
ISO standard for biometric data format interoperability.
Compliance
FIPS 140
US government cryptographic module security standard.
PCI PTS
Payment industry standard for PIN entry device security.
ITSEF
Accredited lab that performs Common Criteria smart card evaluations.
JIL
Guidelines for consistent smart card hardware attack evaluation.
EMVCo Type Approval
EMVCo certification for payment chips and terminals.
GSMA SAS
GSMA security certification for SIM/eSIM manufacturers.
ETSI SAS
European standard for SIM card production security assurance.
FIPS 201
US federal standard defining PIV smart card specifications.
ICAO 9303
ICAO standard for ePassport chip data and security protocols.
PCI DSS
Security standard for payment card data environments.
Provisioning
eUICC
Reprogrammable SIM chip supporting remote profile switching.
SM-DP+
Server that prepares and delivers profiles to eSIM devices.
SM-SR
Secure routing entity for M2M eSIM profile management.
LPA
Device-side app for managing eSIM profile operations.
Subscription Profile
Downloadable virtual SIM package for eSIM devices.
M2M Provisioning
Remote eSIM provisioning for IoT and headless devices.
Cryptography
AES
NIST symmetric block cipher for smart card encryption.
RSA
Public-key algorithm for smart card signatures and key exchange.
ECC
Efficient public-key cryptography using elliptic curves.
3DES
Legacy triple-DES symmetric cipher in payment smart cards.
SHA
NIST hash functions for smart card integrity and signatures.
Key Ceremony
Formal audited procedure for generating or loading master keys.
Manufacturing
Card Personalization Bureau
Certified facility for large-scale smart card personalization.
Pre-personalization
Loading transport keys and serial numbers before main personalization.
Hot Stamping
Foil or hologram application using heat and pressure.
Laser Engraving
Laser-etched permanent personalization on polycarbonate cards.
Chip Embedding
Bonding chip module into milled card body cavity.
Card Testing
QA verification of completed smart card electrical and physical specs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The smart card glossary is a comprehensive reference of technical terms, acronyms, and concepts used in smart card technology. It covers protocols (APDU, T=0, T=1), security (Common Criteria, EAL, HSM), hardware (SE, EEPROM, contact pad), and applications (EMV, ePassport, eSIM). It serves developers, product managers, and engineers.
Yes. SmartCardFYI provides glossary definitions in 15 languages including English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Arabic, French, Russian, German, Turkish, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Thai.