Glossary · Industrial wireless and positioning
Near-field communication (NFC)
Also known as: NFC
German: Nahfeldkommunikation (NFC)
In wireless communication, near-field communication (NFC) is a short-range radio technology at 13.56 MHz with a typical range of a few centimeters, used for identification, contactless data exchange and device configuration. ISO/IEC 18092 specifies the NFC interface and protocol.
- Industrial wireless
- Standards
In one sentence
NFC is a 13.56 MHz radio technology with a range of a few centimeters for identification and contactless configuration.
Example
A technician holds a smartphone against an unpowered drive to read its type data and write a parameter set via NFC before installation.
How it applies
- Engineering: NFC allows configuration of devices without opening them and, for passive tags, even without power. It is also used for product identification, for example as a data carrier linking to online documentation or a digital product passport.
- Security: The short range limits, but doesn't eliminate, unauthorized access. Write access to device parameters should be protected, for example with a password or by locking the tag.
- Operation: Metal surfaces detune NFC antennas; tags for metal mounting are required.
- Documentation: The documentation team describes where the NFC antenna is on the device, which app or reader is needed, which data can be read or written and how write protection works. When NFC links to online information, the link target must be maintained for the product's lifetime.
NFC vs. RFID
NFC is a subset of high-frequency RFID at 13.56 MHz with defined peer-to-peer and card emulation modes. RFID more broadly includes low-frequency and UHF systems with ranges of several meters, common in logistics.