Kartë

Kartë is the Albanian term for a flat, typically rectangular object that encodes information or holds value for a specific use. Cards serve a wide range of functions, including identification, payment, access control, and communication. The category covers identity cards, driver's licenses, credit and debit cards, business cards, SIM cards, and playing or trading cards. The form and technology of kartë have evolved with requirements for counterfeit resistance, convenience, and data capacity.

Physical characteristics commonly include plastic (often PVC) and a standardized size close to 85.60 by 53.98 millimeters, known in ISO standards as CR80. Modern kartë may feature security elements such as holograms, photographs, magnetic stripes, embedded chips (EMV or smart cards), and contactless interfaces (NFC or RFID). They can be single-purpose or multi-application, sometimes enabling both identification and payment in a single card.

History: The concept of cards extends back to early papers and tokens used for identification and exchange. The modern plastic payment card emerged in the mid-20th century, with early systems in the 1950s and 1960s in North America; Diners Club and later Visa and Mastercard popularized bank card use. Since then, new types—such as SIM cards and contactless payment cards—have expanded the role of kartë in daily life.

Security and privacy: Because kartë often store or convey personal data and financial information, they raise issues of privacy and fraud risk. Protective measures include physical security features, encryption, PINs, and regulatory frameworks governing data handling and card issuance.