ISO 7816-3

by 15/09/2014

This international standard defines two communication protocols for ICCs: T=0 and T=1. A compliant reader must support both of them.

Definitioner

T=0 (ISO 7816-4)

This international standard defines both a communication scheme and a command set. The communication scheme is made of APDUs. The command set assumes that the card is structured the same way as a computer disk drive: directories and files could be selected (SELECT instruction) and accessed for reading or writing (READ BINARY, UPDATE BINARY instructions). More than 40 instructions are defined by the standard, but most cards implement only a small subset, and often add their own (vendor-specific) instructions.

T=1 (ISO 7816-4)

T=0 (ISO 7816-3)

This international standard defines two communication protocols for ICCs: T=0 and T=1. A compliant reader must support both of them.

T=1 (ISO 7816-3)

This international standard defines two communication protocols for ICCs: T=0 and T=1. A compliant reader must support both of them.

reader (Microprocessor-based card)

An ICC (or a PICC) whose chip is a small computer. This is the case of high-end cards used in payment, transport, eID/passports, access control... Key features are security, ability to store a large amount of data and to run an application inside the chip. Most of the time they implement the command set defined by ISO 7816-4.

reader (CD)

Coupling device or coupler. A device able to communicate with an ICC. This is what everybody calls a smartcard reader. Technically speaking it could be seen as a gateway between the computer and the card.

ICCs (ICC)

Integrated-circuit card. This is the standard name for a plastic card holding a silicon chip (an integrated circuit) compliant with the ISO 7816 standards. A common name is smartcard.