Think of a gray card as a standard - like 24 frames per second.
A gray card, properly exposed, is an established standard or baseline in all of photography - digital or photochemical.
A properly exposed gray card signals that optimal exposure has been achieved in a shot precisely between the brightest and darkest values and that’s why it’s called “Middle Gray”.
Out of 10 measurable tonal values it is number 5.
Leaving 5 steps of brightness to the right (6-10) and 5 steps of darkness to the left (0-4).
Exposure wise, it’s a very good place to start and is much appreciated by technicians far and wide.
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