Toploader
A toploader is a rigid plastic holder for a single card, used over a soft sleeve to protect the card in storage and in the mail.
In more detail
A toploader is a hard plastic case that holds one card. For a standard-size card you buy the 3 by 4 inch size, and a thicker card needs a thicker holder: makers sell them by the point, and Ultra Pro's thicker standard size is 55 point, for example.
A card goes into a soft penny sleeve first, which All Vintage Cards calls the first line of defense. Majesty Grading warns against a toploader without a soft sleeve first, because the card's edges can rub on the hard plastic, and the toploader adds a second layer of protection around the sleeve.
Check the rules before you use a toploader for a grading submission. Majesty Grading says semi-rigid holders are the industry standard for submissions, and All Vintage Cards calls the semi-rigid Card Saver the preferred holder for them. A team bag is a soft bag, so it keeps several cards together but does not stiffen a package.
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Where Rip.fan covers it
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