How magnetic strip works

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Magnetic tape recording works by converting electrical audio signals into magnetic energy, which imprints a record of the signal onto a moving tape covered in magnetic particles. Playback is achieved by converting the recording on tape back into electrical energy to be amplified. Tape recording relies on a plastic film coated with tiny magnetic particles on one side the tape moving at a consistent speed through a tape machine. This is accomplished by unwinding the tape from one reel, passing it through a series of stabilizing rollers and guides, and spooling it onto a second takeup reel to be stored. If the speed is changed during playback or recording due to improper settings or faulty motors, the pitch will be distorted.

The first official documented use of magstripes on cards is from the London Transit Authority who, in the early s, installed magstripes on cards for the London Underground. However, one of the most important dates for magstripes was , where the standards were established for credit cards which were first issued in and magnetic stripes became used. These cards can have greater capacity than magstripe cards and have have broader information carrying capacities, that can be added or deleted, as well as being able to accomplish some more complicated tasks such as data encryption.

A magnetic stripe card is a type of card capable of storing data by modifying the magnetism of tiny iron-based magnetic particles on a band of magnetic material on the card. The magnetic stripe, sometimes called swipe card or magstripe , is read by swiping past a magnetic reading head. Magnetic stripe cards are commonly used in credit cards , identity cards , and transportation tickets. Magnetic recording on steel tape and wire was invented in Denmark around for recording audio. In , IBM used the magnetic tape idea to develop a reliable way of securing magnetic stripes to plastic cards, [2] under a contract with the US government for a security system.