Magnetic Stripe Card Magnetic Stripe Card Any type of card that contains data embedded in a strip composed of iron particles in plastic film. The front of the card contains identifying information, such as the cardholder’s name and the issuing company’s name, while the magnetic stripe resides on the back. These cards are usually a little larger than 2 inches by 3 inches and made of plastic or durable paper. Types of magnetic stripe cards include driver’s licenses, credit cards, employee ID cards, gift cards and public transit cards. BREAKING DOWN 'Magnetic Stripe Card’ When a magnetic stripe card is swiped through a magnetic stripe reader, the reader decodes the data in the magnetic stripe to enable a transaction to go through. The transaction might allow an employee to access a building or a customer to pay a merchant by credit card. If the magnetic stripe becomes dirty, scratched or demagnetized, the card may not work. The magnetic stripe on a credit card...