Pyscard

Pyscard is a Python library that provides access to smart cards through the PC/SC (Personal Computer/Smart Card) API. It enables Python programs to communicate with smart card readers, select cards, and exchange APDU commands with cards in a cross‑platform manner.

The library presents a Python package, typically imported as smartcard, which wrappers the underlying PC/SC service. It supports Windows, Linux, and macOS by interfacing with the native PC/SC implementations (winscard on Windows and pcsclite on Unix-like systems). Pyscard exposes high‑level abstractions for common tasks such as enumerating available readers, requesting and connecting to a card, and transmitting command and response APDUs. It also includes utilities for encoding and decoding data and interpreting card status words.

Key components commonly used in applications include the System module for discovering readers, CardConnection and CardRequest for managing card presence and connections, and util for APDU helpers. Typical usage involves listing readers, selecting one, establishing a connection, and sending APDUs to the card to perform operations such as authentication, data retrieval, or file management on the card.

Pyscard is widely used in research, testing, and practical applications that require programmatic interaction with smart cards. As a wrapper around PC/SC, its effectiveness depends on the availability of a PC/SC compliant reader and appropriate drivers for the target platform. Documentation and examples are available through community resources maintained alongside the project.