cryptographic token

A portable, user-controlled, physical device (e.g., smart card or PCMCIA card) used to store cryptographic information and possibly also perform cryptographic functions. (See: cryptographic card, token.)

Tutorial: A smart token might implement some set of cryptographic algorithms and might incorporate related key management functions, such as a random number generator. A smart cryptographic token may contain a cryptographic module or may not be explicitly designed that way.