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How is a chip-enhanced card different from a magnetic stripe card?

A chip-enhanced card contains an embedded microchip. The chip holds encrypted information, making it extremely difficult for the card to be copied or counterfeited. Rather than swiping the card, you will insert your card into a chip-enabled terminal to complete a transaction. In addition to the embedded microchip, the chip-card has a magnetic stripe on the back, and purchases can still be made by swiping the card at merchants that have not yet switched to chip-enabled terminals.