Badge-based time and attendance software products typically use two types of badges:

• Magnetic Swipe - the badge has a magnetic strip on the badge that permits the badge reader to uniquely identiry the badge.  An employee is assigned a badge number that is remembered by the software product.  The badge is swiped through a terminal for each punch in and out transaction.
• Proximity - a proximity badge has an embedded radio frequency identifier (RFID) embedded in the badge.  The badge is waved in the general area of the proximity reader to punch in and out.

A barcode badge has a barcode printed on the badge.  The badge is either swiped or help underneath a visible barcode reader to detect the badge number that is represented by the badge.  All punches are associated with the unique number assigned to the barcode on the badge.