ISO 14443 defines a proximity card used for identification that usually uses the standard credit card form factor defined by ISO 7810 ID-1. Other form factors also are possible. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader uses an embedded microcontroller (including its own microprocessor and several types of memory) and a magnetic loop antenna that operates at 13.56 MHz (RFID frequency). More recent ICAO standards for machine-readable travel documents specify a cryptographically-signed file format and authentication protocol for storing biometric features (photos of the face, fingerprints, and/or iris).

ISO 14443 consists of four parts and describes two types of cards: type A and type B. The main differences between these types concern modulation methods, coding schemes (part 2) and protocol initialization procedures (part 3). Both type A and type B cards use the same high-level protocol (so called T=CL) described in part 4. The T=CL protocol specifies data block exchange and related mechanisms:

1. data block chaining
2. waiting time extension
3. multi-activation

ISO 14443 uses following terms for components:

• PCD — proximity coupling device (or reader)
• PICC — proximity integrated circuit card

MIFARE cards comply with ISO14443 part 1, 2 and 3 type A.

See also

• ISO 7816, classic "with contact" smart card standard

External links

• Draft contactless standards
• Draft ISO/IEC 14443 standards
• The 14443B standard as application note

ISO standards | RFID | Contactless smartcards

ISO 14443