Near-field communication

Near-field communication, or NFC, is a special way for electronic devices to talk to each other.

This technology only works when two things are very close together. It is a set of rules called protocols that let devices share information quickly. People use it for many helpful tasks every day. You might tap a phone to pay for a snack. You could also use it to set up a Wi-Fi connection.

It makes connecting new gadgets a much easier job.

NFC works through a process called inductive coupling. This happens when two coils of wire are placed near each other. One device is the initiator, which creates a magnetic field. The other device is the target, which catches that energy.

Some targets are passive, meaning they do not even need a battery to work. These can be small stickers, cards, or even key fobs. They use the energy from the initiator to send data back. This works at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. This specific radio frequency is used all over the world.

This technology has a long and interesting history. It grew out of radio-frequency identification, which is known as RFID. In 1983, Charles Walton was granted the first patent for RFID. Later, in 1997, an early version was used in Star Wars toys by Hasbro. Two engineers, Franz Amtmann and Philippe Maugars, invented the six main patents for NFC. They even won the European Inventor Award in 2015 for their work. In 2004, companies like Nokia, Philips, and Sony formed the NFC Forum to help grow the technology.

There are many specific facts about how NFC performs. It can send data at speeds between 106 and 848 kbit/s. The NFC Forum also created a way to charge things without wires. This is called NFC Wireless Charging, or WLC. It can provide up to 1 W of power to small items. This is perfect for tiny things like earbuds or wearables.

While other chargers like Qi provide more power, NFC WLC uses much smaller antennas. These antennas can be as tiny as 1 mm wide.

NFC connects to many things you likely use already. It is used in the metro networks in cities like Beijing. It is also found in many credit cards and bank cards. Some smartphones, like the Nokia C7 from 2010, were among the first to use it. Even your watch might use it if it has a partnership with companies like Visa. It turns your everyday items into smart tools. This makes life simpler by letting you tap and go.