Data card
A datacard is an electronic card for data operations (storage, transfer, transformation, input, output). Datacard types. Datacards can be sorted by their purposes: Expansion cards. The expansion card in the computer is equipped with contacts on one of its edges, and it can be inserted into the motherboard slot socket. There are various types of expansion cards: Memory cards. Many modern devices demand non-volatile memory requiring low power. Flash memory is used for these purposes. It is widespread in digital portable devices such as photo and video cameras, dictaphones, MP3 players, handheld computers, mobile phones, and also  in smart phones and communicators. It is used for storage of the built-in software in various devices (like routers, mini-phonestations, printers, scanners, modems and controllers). In recent years USB flash-drives have become more popular and have almost replaced diskettes and CDs. Flash memory is well known from its use in USB flash-drives. Flash cards also are based on flash memory, such as Secure Digital (SD), Compact Flash and Memory Stick. These are much used in portable devices (cameras, mobile phones). Flash memory constitutes the biggest part of the portable data device market. Identification cards. Contact cards  with ISO/IEC 7816 interface. Contact smart cards (with chip) have a contact zone consisting of a few small contact petals. When the card is inserted into the reader, the chip connects with the card reader which can then read and write information. The standard ISO/IEC 7816 also regulates data exchange protocols and some aspects of work with other smart card data. Such cards are used for holder authorization for reception of certain services, such as bank account access for payments realization, use of prepaid mobile services, etc. The most widespread contact smart cards are SIM cards, payphone cards  and some banking cards. Contact cards with USB interface. This is often a microcircuit, such as a SIM card segregated from the ISO/IEC 7816 card and mounted in a tiny case with reader and USB connector. It makes smart-card application for computer authentification much more convenient. For example, an electronic key or eToken which is a personal authentification tool and a protected data storage device, supporting work with digital certificates and with an electronic digital signature. Contactless cards. These are smart cards that communicate with the reader through radio transmission. The card must be close enough to the  reader to perform necessary operations. Contactless cards are often used in areas where operations must be performed quickly, for example in public transport. There are many examples of contactless smart cards, such as travel tickets in underground and ground transport, the electronic ("biometric") passports, as well as some kinds of cards in access monitoring systems.