Definition of identification card

The term "identification card" can be traced back to the early 20th century when governments began to issue personal documents for identity verification purposes. The term itself is a combination of two words - "identity" and "card." Initially, these documents, known as identity cards, were primarily used by military personnel to identify themselves to their superiors. However, during World War II, many countries started to issue identity cards to their civilians as part of their population registers, primarily due to emerging security concerns and the need for more efficient ways to manage national populations. The term "identification card" became widely adopted and popularized during this time as these documents increasingly became necessary for various administrative and law enforcement purposes. By the 1950s and 1960s, identity cards had become a standard requirement in many countries around the world, and their use continued to expand beyond military and national registration purposes. Today, identification cards are issued by governments worldwide to identify individuals for various purposes, including accessing services, voting, and traveling internationally. While the design, content, and issuing procedures of these documents may vary from country to country, their primary function remains constant: to provide a reliable and verifiable means of identifying individuals in different contexts.