Both are interfacing, but the difference is that the second solution is acting as pass-through to an internal mechanism.ĭo I need a different reader for each card type? A reader that accepts micro SD cards by attaching to an internal SD card reader is an adapter. A card reader that connects to a computer via a USB port is an external solution. External readers may be standalone or part of a hub and often connect to the computer or other device via USB.Īn adapter is often like a cross between an external and internal memory card reader. Examples of internal card readers include the micro SD slot on a tablet, a memory card slot on a camera, or an SD card slot on a laptop. Broadly, there are two kinds of readers: internal and external. Readers and adapters are what make these memory sticks usable across Windows PCs, laptops, Android devices, and more.Ī card reader is a device that accepts compact flash media for reading and writing. The storage is non-volatile, and that persistence and portability make it an ideal storage solution for smartphones, tablets, and many other portable gadgets. Memory cards, which are also called flash cards and memory cartridges, are a type of portable data storage. Computer Memory Card Readers and Adapters