NFC & RFID: Wireless communication technologies

RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) and NFC (Near Field Communication) are both technologies for wireless data transmission over short distances. NFC is a special form of RFID optimized for very short ranges (up to 10 cm).

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RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification)

Frequency ranges:

• Low Frequency (LF): 125–134 kHz (e.g. access cards, animal chips).
• High Frequency (HF): 13.56 MHz (e.g. contactless credit cards).
• Ultra High Frequency (UHF): 860–960 MHz (e.g. logistics, warehouse management).

Reach:

• Passive: Up to 1–5 meters (requires a reader as it has no power supply).
• Active: Up to 100 meters (has its own battery).

Purpose:
✅ Access control (key fobs, chip cards).
✅ Logistics & goods tracking (supermarkets, warehouses).
✅ Animal identification (microchips for pets).

How does RFID work?
An RFID tag contains a small microchip with an ID. An RFID reader sends radio waves, and the chip responds with its data.

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NFC (Near Field Communication)

Frequency: 13.56 MHz (part of the RFID family, but optimized for short distances).
Range: 1–10 cm (very short distance for security).
Data rate: Up to 424 kbit/s (faster than RFID).
Data transmission: Bidirectional (RFID can only communicate one-way).

Intended use:
✅ Contactless payments (e.g., Google Pay, Apple Pay).
✅ Key cards & access systems (hotels, offices).
✅ Data transfer between smartphones (e.g., quickly sharing Wi-Fi passwords).
✅ Public transportation (tickets & check-in systems).

How does NFC work?
There are three modes:

1. Read/Write mode → A smartphone can read or write to NFC tags.
2. Peer-to-peer mode → Two NFC-enabled devices can exchange data directly.
3. Card emulation mode → NFC devices (e.g. smartphones) can act like a credit card.