Magnetic stripe readers work by moving a magnetic head over the magnetic stripe. The magnetic head generates a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic material on the stripe. This interaction causes the magnetic material to produce a series of electrical signals. These signals are amplified and then decoded to extract the data that is stored on the magnetic stripe.
Magnetic stripe readers are a common part of point-of-sale (POS) systems. They are also used in ATMs, vending machines, and other similar devices.