What Is NFC and How Does It Work? A Beginner’s Guide

What is NFC, and how can you use this feature? Here is the most essential information about contactless technology.

We can observe intense technological development at virtually every stage. It permeates all areas of our lives and changes how we function daily. A perfect example is how we pay for purchases or services. Back in the 1990s, having a payment card was something exclusive, and when the first mobile payment methods appeared ten years ago, it seemed like science fiction.

Today, contactless payments are commonplace, and more and more people are using NFC on their phones. Although everyone has probably heard of this technology, not everyone is familiar with it. So, let's talk more about NFC — what it is, what NFC communication is, and how you can use NFC.

NFC — what is it?

NFC stands for Near Field Communication, a feature that allows two devices to exchange data wirelessly over short distances.

NFC – what is it and how do you use it?

This type of technology operates based on radio waves transmitted between devices. With their help, they establish contact with each other and exchange information depending on the purpose of the connection. Knowing what NFC is on a phone, we can perform many processes in the blink of an eye.

Of course, the most common association with this technology is the use of apps like Apple Pay or Google Pay for payments. However, NFC payments are not the only thing. Using this feature, we can also quickly transfer files between phones. NFC is not just a simple answer to the question of how to pay with your phone.

How to use NFC

We already know what NFC communication is and how it works. Now it's time for you to learn about the reasons it can be used, or rather, expand on what we have already talked about above.

NFC – what is it and how do you use it?

First of all, we can use the NFC module to make contactless payments. To do this, we will need an app where we can link our bank card. It is worth remembering that this type of payment does not require Wi-Fi or a mobile network connection — NFC phone payments work in the same way as the chip in our physical payment card.

The phone sends information to the payment terminal, which sends a response message, establishing an instant connection with our device.

Thanks to the NFC function, we can easily transfer files between phones. The entire process is significantly more efficient and serves as a real competitor to the Bluetooth standard, which we will discuss today.

NFC Tag – what is it?

NFC Tags are special stickers containing an NFC module. They have no value in themselves and cannot do anything on their own – they are passive devices. However, they can interact with a smartphone programmed to control them.

NFC – what is it and how do you use it?

If the device is not paired with the specified tag, it will be completely useless.

From a specific point of view, NFC tags can work like QR codes, but they are used in several different areas of our lives. Such tags do not require power from the mains or a battery to store information. Although the question of what an NFC tag is is complex, it opens up completely new perspectives for the future.

How to use NFC on your phone or watch

The answer to the question ‘What is NFC on a phone?’ is the same as the answer to the question ‘What is NFC on a watch?’ — the principle behind this module is the same.

NFC – what is it and how do you use it?

However, not every smartphone has this feature — you must first check in the settings to see if your device supports NFC. It is standard on newer models, but not necessarily on older phones.

How do I enable the NFC module? On Android phones, we should have access via the context menu at the top. Between the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, and mobile network icons, there will definitely be an NFC logo, which you need to tap.

As we mentioned above, the module will not work without a properly configured application. In the case of the iPhone, the answer to the question of how to enable NFC is also not complicated. NFC is enabled by default, and you only need to configure the Wallet app to start using this technology.

NFC security

But some people may wonder whether NFC is secure, and whether the ability to pay by phone could lead to abuse and theft.

NFC – what is it and how do you use it?

This could certainly be the case if it weren't for the fact that our smartphones have reliable protection against unauthorised use of this feature. The security issue also lies in the fact that our device must be unlocked first.

However, other ways to secure NFC payments have been available on the market for a long time, such as biometrics – fingerprint or face scanning. We can compare NFC to the security of payment cards. In fact, if we have a physical card, we can also lose it, and a thief will quickly empty our account. To access NFC, you first have to hack into the smartphone's security system.

NFC or Bluetooth – which is better

Here, we mainly focus on the NFC module as a payment method. However, we can also transfer files using this feature.

NFC – what is it and how do you use it?

Is this technology better than good old Bluetooth? Well, on the one hand, NFC allows us to connect devices much faster — we don't have to go through the tedious pairing process. On the other hand, Bluetooth works over longer distances and offers higher data transfer speeds.

So who comes out on top in this comparison? Well, it all depends on what type of data transfer we want to perform.

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