Smart Card Reader with PHP

[mkyle1]

Hi,

the project I am working on would like to implement the use of a smart card reader to input data into a form field. (Insert card to reader and pass info contained on card to form field to query application database)Does anyone know how this can be done?

Thanks Martin 🙂

[etully]

Martin, First off, a smart card doesn't do what you think it does - it's not a data holder the way a credit card stripe is. A smart card accepts input, encrypts it, and transmits the encrypted result which proves that you are in possession of the original card since a credit card can be copied and a smart card cannot.

Second, your question really seems to be about how a card reader on your local machine can feed data into a field in your web browser. While that can be done, it would be a function of the software that comes with the card reader (probably some Windows executable or something) that can interact with both the card reader and your web browser. It wouldn't be a function of PHP which runs on the server side.

[Kudose]

If you get a smart card or magnitized card or whatever, that sends the data as keyboard input (i.e. much like USB bar code scanners), then you can easily do what you want.

I.E.
Page loads and focuses to desired field
User uses card and data is automatically inputted into the focused field
On the fields change, you can use JS to submit the form to perform the query.
Perform the query with your desired language.

So, etully is mainly correct, PHP is not used. JS and whatever server side language you desire. I say etully is mainly correct because I can think of a few ways to use a smart card.

[mkyle1]

Hi,

thanks folks for replying. Can you recomend a smartcard reader which can be used as described above?

Thanks again

Martin