Near-field communication (NFC) and radio frequency identification (RFID) are two types of electronic identification protocols based on the use of electromagnetic radiation in the radio wavelength range.
These technologies are used to wirelessly identify and track digital data embedded in the tags of certain devices. Both NFC and RFID have industrial and commercial applications. Note that these technologies have several things in common, although there are some important differences between them.
History of creation
NFC technology is essentially a form of RFID. RFID technology appeared in 1973 when American inventor Mario Cardullo presented its first prototype. It was he who first patented the device, which was a passive radio transponder with memory.
The earliest version of NFC appeared in 1997 when international manufacturer Hasbro, Inc. used proprietary technology licensed by Andrew White and Mark Borrett for his Star Wars toys. Sony and Philips developed a technical specification for modern NFC in 2002.
What do NFC and RFID have in common
The technology behind RFID received ISO / EOC and ECMA standards in 2003.
Sony, Philips and Nokia launched the NFC Forum in 2004. But the further distribution and practical application of technologies acquired a decade later, when smartphones and wireless technologies became ubiquitous.
However, NFC is only a type of high frequency RFID. Both technologies operate in the globally available and unregulated 13.56 MHz frequency range. Since their introduction, they have been used to electronically identify and track tagged objects.
Active NFC or RFID devices work by processing data from another tag. These labels can be active or passive.
Major differences
The most noticeable difference between NFC and RFID is the range. Active RFID tags have a broadcast range of up to 100 meters. Passives can operate in the low-frequency (from 125 to 135 kHz), high-frequency (13.56 MHz) and ultra-high-frequency - from 856 to 960 MHz - ranges. Meanwhile, NFC is limited to a frequency band of 13.56 MHz and operates within a radius of up to 10 cm.
Another point that differentiates NFC from traditional RFID is that it is more flexible or versatile in terms of applications. Near-field communication is an improved version of high-frequency RFID technology that allows two-way messages to be transmitted. NFC is not only an electronic identification method, but also an advanced wireless communication protocol.
Any NFC-enabled device, such as a smartphone, functions as both a reader and a tag or transmitter.
Due to the unique characteristics of NFC technology, it has more practical applications than RFID. Some of these include wireless connectivity, contactless payment, and the ability to download files. However, NFC is built on high-frequency RFID standards and expands the capabilities of radio-frequency-based wireless communications.