


The selection of six punctuation symbols may seem odd, but in fact the sixteen codes simply map to the ASCII range 0x30 through 0x3f, which defines ten digit characters plus those six symbols. This track is written with a 5-bit scheme (4 data bits + 1 parity), which allows for sixteen possible characters, which are the numbers 0-9, plus the six characters : ?.

This format was developed by the banking industry (ABA). Most reader devices do not return this value when the card is swiped to the presentation layer, and use it only to verify the input internally to the reader. Longitudinal redundancy check (LRC) - it is one character and a validity character calculated from other data on the track.End sentinel - one character (generally ‘?’).Discretionary data - may include Pin Verification Key Indicator (PVKI, 1 character), PIN Verification Value (PVV, 4 characters), Card Verification Value or Card Verification Code ( CVV or CVC, 3 characters).Expiration date - four characters in the form YYMM.Field Separator - one character (generally ‘^’).Usually, but not always, matches the credit card number printed on the front of the card. Primary Account Number (PAN) - up to 19 characters.Format code=”B” - one character (alpha only).Start sentinel - one character (generally ‘%’).Reserved for use by ANSI Subcommittee X3B10 and N-Z, which are available for use by individual card issuers.Reserved for proprietary use of the card issuer.Information on track 1 on financial cards is contained in several formats.Written with the code DEC sixbit or six-bit character code plus odd parity.Also the only track that contains the cardholder’s name.The only track that may contain alphabetic text.Sometimes both in case one of the tracks is unreadable. Point of Sale card readers usually read track 1, or track 2.It is often that track 3 is not even physically present on the card itself.Track 3 is virtually unused by the major worldwide networks such as Visa.These tracks are known as track 1, track 2 and track 3. There are 3 tracks on magnetic cards used for financial transactions. MagCard Write/Read Utility Program to encode cards. These tracks can be erased by strong Neodymium magnets. Track 2 was developed by the banking industry and written with 5-bit scheme. Track 1 has higher bit density, is the only track that can contain text and name. Point of Sale card readers usually read track 1 or 2. Magnetic stripe card tracks: There are 3 tracks on magnetic cards used for financial transactions – track 1, 2, and 3.
