mag-stripe

Magnetic stripe parser for credit-cards and state-issued identification cards. Latest version also includes parser for PDF417 barcode data found on backs of state-issued identification cards.

Shopping

Here is a simple magstripe reader from Amazon

Barcode scanner (parses PDF417 data-matrix barcodes)

If you do not have a reader/scanner, feel free to use the sample mag-stripe or PDF417 data located in /tests/test_data.json

Getting Started

Want to build your own POS system? Go ahead and purchase the components above and get coding!

Both components should come as keyboard-input by default, however, some readers/scanners can be configured to use a different protocol. If you would like to use a different protocol (RS232 for example), follow instructions in your manual to configure the scanner/reader. Use a library like serialport to capture frames sent from your scanner/reader. You will need to convert the received bytes into ASCII characters in order to use this library.

Quick Start:

• Install package npm install --save mag-stripe
• Plug in your virtual keyboard (scanner or mag-stripe reader)
• Use the cli() function documented below - this function will grab the input from your scanner/card-reader and output the parsed data to the commandline

Not-So-Quick Start

• Install package npm install --save mag-stripe
• Build card-payment application
• On your 'swipe-credit-card-here' screen, grab the keyboard-input from your card reader and parse using this library!

Please be sure to use other people's data in an ethical manner ;)

Happy hacking!

Documentation

parse_card(data: string) -> {object}

Function parses input from ID mag-stripe and returns object:

{
    card_number: 1234567812345678,
    first_name: 'john',
    last_name: 'doe',
    expiration_date: '11/23',
    expired: false
}

parse_id(data: string) -> {object}

Function parses input from ID mag-stripe and returns object:

{
    first_name: 'john',
    last_name: 'doe',
    license_number: '81234567',
    under_21: false,
    under_18: false,
    expired: false,
    age: 25,
    date_of_birth: '19931223',
    expiration_date: '2112'
}

parse_pdf417(data: string) -> {object}

Function parses input from ID barcode and returns object:

{
    first_name: 'jane',
    last_name: 'doe',
    license_number: '123456789',
    under_21: false,
    under_18: false,
    expired: false,
    age: 24,
    date_of_birth: '05081994',
    expiration_date: '05082022'
}

Usage

index.js:

const parser = require('mag-stripe');
const id_data = parser.test_data.id;
const credit_card_data = parser.test_data.credit_card;
const pdf417_data = parser.test_data.pdf417_id;
 
function get_id_data () {
    let data = parser.parse_id(id_data);
    // do something with ID info (check age?)
}
 
function get_credit_card_data () {
    let data = parser.parse_card(credit_card_data);
    // do something with credit card info
}
 
function get_pdf417_id_data () {
    let data = parser.parse_pdf417(pdf417_data);
    // do something with ID info
}

CLI Usage

index.js:

require('mag-stripe').cli();

Run: node index.js this method will create a readline stream - plug in your card reader and swipe!