Access control card readers are used for maintaining physical safety, commonly at the doors. Such readers read credentials stored on a card in one or the other form to allow or restrict access to the cardholder.

Card readers are very commonly used in access control systems as they allow for higher safety in comparison to PIN-based access control systems. While the first card readers read the punched papers or cardboard, the evolution took place with the invention of computers and the internet. Here are some of the cards that are commonly used in access control systems. These cards are based on the physical & behavioral traits of an individual. The access control grants or restricts access of cardholders by matching the stored template of any specific trait with the one obtained after insertion or presentation of the cards.