A magnetic stripe card is a type of payment card that contains a magnetic stripe on the back. This stripe holds encoded information, such as the cardholder's name, account number, and expiration date. When swiped through a card reader, the information is read and processed, allowing for transactions at various points of sale. These cards are commonly used for credit and debit transactions, as well as for identification purposes in access control systems. The magnetic stripe technology has been widely adopted due to its convenience, although it is gradually being replaced by more secure methods like chip cards and contactless payments.