NFC: Definition & explanation

NFC is based on RFID technology and operates in the 13.56 MHz frequency band. Two NFC-capable devices, or a device and a passive tag, must come within a few centimeters of each other for data exchange to occur. The smartphone typically generates a magnetic field that powers the passive chip, so the tag needs no battery. NFC supports three modes: card emulation (the phone acts like a credit card, e.g. for Google Pay or Apple Pay), peer-to-peer (data exchange between two active devices), and reader/writer mode (reading tags on posters, packaging, or smart home labels). The short range isn't a drawback but a security feature — it makes remote data interception much harder. In modern smartphones, NFC is standard and used for payments, public transit ticketing, pairing Bluetooth headphones, or transferring contacts. Data transfer speed tops out at 424 kbit/s, which is low but sufficient for these typical use cases.