SD cards are small storage devices used to provide or increase the memory capacity of another device. An SD card reader is a device that allows files on an SD memory card to be accessed. This type of reader can be an external accessory or can be integrated into a larger device.
An SD card.
An SD card can be used with a variety of devices such as cell phones, computers and digital cameras. If a person has an SD card reader, he can access the files he has stored without the original device that was used to create them. The card reader can therefore act as a medium when a person wants to copy or transfer files from one device to another.
SD cards can be used to store photos and videos taken on digital cameras.
An external SD card reader is usually a basic device. Most are light and compact. To use it, a person simply inserts the SD card into the slot provided; some models require the SD card to be inserted upside down. The device can then be connected to another device, such as a laptop, where files can be accessed.
The most common way to connect an SD card reader to a computer or other device is using a USB plug. FireWire or parallel printer ports can also be used. The cable used to connect the device to another may or may not be removable.
Each SD card reader will not produce the same results. Speed is a feature that may differ between them. Speed in this sense refers to how long it will take for information on the memory card to be accessed by the other device. Some do not read data from memory cards as quickly as others. Another big difference is that some readers may not even read certain cards.
SD cards not only come with different storage capacities but also in different sizes and shapes. Individuals who have several different sizes of SD cards may consider a multiple SD card reader. These devices usually have multiple slots, which allows one device to be used to read various types of SD cards.
An SD card reader is not always an external device. Many devices, including some computers and printers, have built-in readers. They work on the same premise as external devices. One downside, however, is that when the SD reader is built in, it may not be able to read memory cards of varying sizes.