Question about badges and gems

[Cas2]

I don't play on Steam often so I don't know all the features. I noticed today I have some badges. First what are their purpose and is it similar to trading cards? If not how does it differ? SeconldyIf I break a badge into gems, can I possibly re-earn the badge? I ask because if not then I would like to keep whatever card/badge I earned.

Thanks

[Ogami]

Badges are crafted from card sets. If you have all cards from a set you can craft them into a badge for that particular game. Each badge can be crafted up to 5 times and changes its appearance with each new level. You get 100 exp to your Steam Level for every badge/badge level you craft.
Badges can neither be traded nor transformed into gems. They are just to display on your profile and for the exp they give you.
Some badges you get without crafting, the community badge, the games owner badge, the Steam member years badge and similar. Also sometimes you can get special badges you can only get for a short time like the Steam Sticker Badge from the Summer Sale that just ended, which you got for having all Sticker pages complete.

[Forcen]

This should show and explain a bit, there is a faq also: http://steamcommunity.com/tradingcards/
That page is a bit old now but it seems accurate still.

[Hodman]

http://steamcommunity.com/tradingcards

Edit. Double Ninja'd

[Cas2]

Thanks guys, when I get time I'm going to read up more on this as I like this boy scout medal badge idea.

But quick question is there any benefit lost to converting card?

[Forcen]

The cards disapear and you can't trade or sell it.