The ISO 7816 standards are a set of international rules that define the characteristics of integrated circuit identification cards, commonly referred to as "smart cards". This standard specifies their physical dimensions, durability and, above all, the exact location and function of the electrical contacts on the chip. This ensures that the card fits correctly into any reader and that the correct electrical connection is made. In addition to the physical characteristics, the ISO 7816 standard also describes how the card communicates with the reader, for example in a POS terminal. It defines the electronic signals and transmission protocols, which is essentially the "language" in which the terminal and card exchange data, including a set of commands for operations such as PIN verification or data reading. Although these standards are included in the category of magnetic card readers, they refer primarily to the function of the chip, not the magnetic stripe.