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NFC

NFC (Near Field Communication) is a short-range wireless technology that lets devices a few centimetres apart exchange data

What it means, how it is used and where it comes up, with its related concepts.

What it is and how it works

It works by bringing one device close to another or to a tag, usually less than 10 centimetres away and in practice almost touching, which limits the risk of accidental reads. The connection is almost instant and requires no prior pairing.

It is used for contactless payments with cards, phones or watches, transport cards, access control, digital keys and tags that open a website or app when a phone is held near them. In marketing it can connect physical items, such as packaging or posters, with digital content. It differs from Bluetooth in its much shorter range and its focus on brief interactions.

Also known as

Near Field Communication

Related concepts

NFC: what it is and how it works · Zorraquino