scard
SCard refers to the Windows Smart Card API, a set of functions for interacting with smart cards and card readers. It is implemented in the Windows platform as part of the PC/SC standard and is exposed through the WinSCard library with headers such as WinSCard.h. Applications invoking these functions typically use the SCard prefix, for example SCardEstablishContext, SCardConnect, and SCardTransmit.
The PC/SC standard provides a cross-platform API for smart cards, and Windows implements it to enable communication
Key concepts and functions include: a context created with SCardEstablishContext, listing available readers with SCardListReaders, connecting
Typical workflow: establish a context, enumerate readers, connect to a card in a chosen reader, optionally begin
Cross-platform use is common, as PC/SC is also implemented on macOS and Linux (via pcsc-lite), allowing portable