| has gloss | eng: An interchangeable core is a compact keying mechanism in a specific "small format" or figure-eight shape. It is directly inserted and extracted by use of a special "control" key, as opposed to a standard key cylinder, which is accessible only via locking device disassembly. Although operationally similar to removeable cores, which come in varying "large formats" or snowman shapes, an interchangeable core neither dictates nor excludes the use of a particular hardware manufacturer; in other words, whereas a typical large format key system of Brand X must be expanded with Brand X cores and must use Brand X cylindrical locks and cylinder housings, a typical small format key system of Brand A can be expanded with cores from Brands A, B, C, D, E, etc and can also be used with locks and housings from Brands A, B, C, D, E, etc... |
