A Guide to ID Cards: Identifying the 7 Types of ID Cards

ID cards, or identification cards cane be used or many different purposes. Throughout your life, you many need an ID card for a variety of reasons. Some places they could be used include in school and university, in hospitals, office buildings and of course, at work. They are not utilized simply for identification, but also for additional security, access, and entry to certain premises.

Here are some different types of ID cards that could be available:

ðŸ“› 1. Holographic Cards

This is one of the new waves of ID cards. Credit card companies have been using this type of card for years because of its added security features. They include embedded holograms, bar codes, PDF symbologies, colour shifting inks, and a variety of text holoimages.

ðŸ“› 2. Magnetic Stripe Cards

Magnetic stripe cards are the latest wave of ID cards. They are now in use for all types of identification, security and access control needs. They have circuitry built into the cards which allows access via an electronics reader as with a proximity card. This type of card is now in use in every imaginable situation because of both ease of use and the ability to monitor and track their usage.

ðŸ“› 3. ID Card Multifunction Cards

Multifunction ID cards allow companies and businesses to utilize many different technologies on a single card. This is important because there may be a need to interface employee records like electronic time sheets with the company and building security systems. It may even be necessary to access different computer hardware and more traditional office machines such as a fax or photocopier.

ðŸ“› 4. Photography ID Cards

People expect to receive an ID card that has a good quality picture if they are going to use it every day at work. An ID card could be printed on paper, but it would not look professional and it would simply not last very long either. That’s why almost everyone uses a laminated photo ID for their identification card purposes.

ðŸ“› 5. School ID Cards

School ID cards can be used for basic identification and access, but they can also be used track attendance and allow access to controlled areas like labs, the school library or computer room. Student ID cards are also becoming popular for discounts on public transit, food, and even events like concerts and movies at a reduced rate. Throughout high school and into college and university, student ID cards mot only allow them to enter and leave school freely, but to get acknowledged and receive special treatment in the community.

ðŸ“› 6. Child ID Cards

We are also getting ID cards earlier and earlier in life. One of the growth areas in identification cards is with child ID cards. These cards help to keep children safe and if they got lost they can be more easily returned to their parents. A child should wear an ID card with their basic information including their name and address, parents' names and contact details, medical emergency details, as well as their photograph, and date of birth, height, weight, and hair colour. It should be laminated to prevent smudging and to help the card last a long time.

ðŸ“› 7. Employee ID Cards

For many people their first employee identification card is a like a transition into adulthood. Even if it’s just for a summer or part-time job, it makes a young person feel grown up and part of the bigger adult world. Employee IDs are used to identify employees of a particular firm or enterprise, but they also have many more purposes. They can be used to control access certain areas in the building or sensitive information. They are also part of the overall company security plan, that restricts access to employer premises to those who have a legitimate reason for being there.