PC/SC wrapper classes for .NET

Introduction

The pcsc-sharp library is wrapper that provides access to the Personal Computer/Smart Card Resource Manager using the system's native PC/SC API. It implements partial ISO7816 support and is written to run on both Windows and Unix (.Net Core or Mono using PCSC Lite).

pcsc-sharp is not a fully featured library for accessing vendor specific protocols. You must implement those protocols / applications yourself. For example: You can use pcsc-sharp to access NXP's Mirfare RFID chips, but pcsc-sharp does not provide any APDUs to request KEYs, authorize, etc.

pcsc-sharp does not contain any device drivers. A PC/SC compliant reader + driver is mandatory.

The GitHub issue tracker is not a support forum. Please contact your vendor for reader or card specific questions.

You can find PC/SC specific documentation here:

• Windows: Smart Card Resource Manager API
• Linux: PCSC lite project

Supported Operating systems

• Windows (winscard.dll)

  • Windows 11 64-bit
  • Windows 10 64-bit Professional
  • Windows 10 32-bit Professional

• Linux (PC/SC lite)

  • Ubuntu Linux 64-bit
  • Ubuntu Linux 32-bit

• MacOS X

• Raspberry Pi / Linux ARM

  • linux-arm

Quick start

Establish the resource manager context

Each operation requires a valid context. See SCardEstablishContext for more information.

var contextFactory = ContextFactory.Instance;
using (var context = contextFactory.Establish(SCardScope.System)) {
   // your code
}

Basic rules / best practices:

• One context per smartcard / reader.
• One context per SCardMonitor.
• The context must be disposed of after usage to free system resources.
• The context must not be disposed of if your application still accesses the smartcard / reader.

List all connected smartcard readers

See SCardListReaders.

var contextFactory = ContextFactory.Instance;
using (var context = contextFactory.Establish(SCardScope.System)) {
    Console.WriteLine("Currently connected readers: ");
    var readerNames = context.GetReaders();
    foreach (var readerName in readerNames) {
        Console.WriteLine("\t" + readerName);
    }
}

Send ISO7816 APDUs

var contextFactory = ContextFactory.Instance;
using (var ctx = contextFactory.Establish(SCardScope.System)) {
    using (var isoReader = new IsoReader(ctx, "ACME Smartcard reader", SCardShareMode.Shared, SCardProtocol.Any, false)) {

        var apdu = new CommandApdu(IsoCase.Case2Short, isoReader.ActiveProtocol) {
            CLA = 0x00, // Class
            Instruction = InstructionCode.GetChallenge,
            P1 = 0x00, // Parameter 1
            P2 = 0x00, // Parameter 2
            Le = 0x08 // Expected length of the returned data
        };

        var response = isoReader.Transmit(apdu);
        Console.WriteLine("SW1 SW2 = {0:X2} {1:X2}", response.SW1, response.SW2);
        // ..
    }
}

Read reader attributes

using (var ctx = ContextFactory.Instance.Establish(SCardScope.System)) {
    using (var reader = ctx.ConnectReader("OMNIKEY CardMan 5x21 0", SCardShareMode.Shared, SCardProtocol.Any)) {
        var cardAtr = reader.GetAttrib(SCardAttribute.AtrString);
        Console.WriteLine("ATR: {0}", BitConverter.ToString(cardAtr));
        Console.ReadKey();
    }
}

Monitor reader events

var monitorFactory = MonitorFactory.Instance;
var monitor = monitorFactory.Create(SCardScope.System);

// connect events here..
monitor.StatusChanged += (sender, args) =>
    Console.WriteLine($"New state: {args.NewState}");

monitor.Start("OMNIKEY CardMan 5x21-CL 0");

Console.ReadKey(); // Press any key to exit

monitor.Cancel();
monitor.Dispose();

More example code

Checkout the Examples directory.

Build from source

Required software

Build tools

• .Net 8.0 SDKs (Multi target build)

Compile with

dotnet build -c Release

Build instructions for Raspberry Pi

Compile with

dotnet publish -r linux-arm