Magneettiraitaan

Magneettiraitaan, known in English as magnetic stripes or magstripes, are a common component found on credit cards, debit cards, identification cards, and other forms of plastic cards. They are a strip of magnetic material, typically a dark brown or black color, that is capable of storing data. This data is encoded in a way that allows it to be read by specialized magnetic stripe reader devices.

The magnetic stripe is composed of small iron-based particles, similar to those found in cassette tapes or old computer diskettes. When the card is swiped through a reader, the reader's head detects the magnetic patterns on the stripe and translates them into digital information. This information can include account numbers, expiration dates, customer names, and other relevant data.

There are typically three tracks on a magnetic stripe, each with a different storage capacity and purpose. Track 1 is usually used for account holder information, including their name and account number. Track 2 is the most commonly used for transaction data, such as the account number and other transactional details. Track 3 is less commonly used but can store additional information like currency codes or PIN verification data.

While magnetic stripes have been a ubiquitous method for card data storage for decades, they are considered less secure than newer technologies like EMV chips. Magnetic stripes are susceptible to "skimming," a technique where criminals use devices to copy the data from the stripe. For this reason, many newer cards now incorporate both a magnetic stripe and an EMV chip, with the chip being the primary method for transaction processing due to its enhanced security features.