Mágnescsíkok

Mágnescsíkok, commonly referred to as magnetic stripes or magstripes, are a crucial component for data storage on credit cards, debit cards, ID cards, and other magnetic stripe cards. These stripes are made of a plastic or paper strip with a layer of magnetic material, typically iron particles. This magnetic material is coated onto the stripe in a process that aligns the magnetic particles in a specific direction.

The data stored on a mágnescsík is encoded by magnetizing small sections of the stripe in alternating directions. This creates a binary code that can be read by a magnetic stripe reader. There are usually three tracks on a standard magstripe, each capable of storing different types of information. Track 1 typically holds the cardholder's name, account number, and other alphanumeric data. Track 2 stores the primary account number and expiration date in numeric format. Track 3, though less commonly used, can store additional information.

When a card is swiped through a reader, the magnetic fluctuations on the stripe induce a current in the reader's head. This current is then interpreted by the reader's electronics to retrieve the stored data. While mágnescsíkok have been a reliable method of data storage for decades, they are considered less secure than newer technologies like EMV chips due to their susceptibility to skimming and data replication. Despite this, they remain in widespread use, often in conjunction with chip technology, for backward compatibility with existing point-of-sale systems.