(1) See flash card reader.

(2) A peripheral device that reads the magnetic stripe on the back of a credit card. Such readers are found in ATM machines and all point of sale (POS) terminals that accept credit and debit cards.

(3) An early device that read up to 2,000 punch cards per minute. The character codes were detected by metal brushes making electrical contact through the punched holes or by sensing light shining through the holes. Such readers were the common input device in accounting machines, collators, sorters and other tabulating equipment. See tabulating equipment, tabulator and Hollerith machine.