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Difference between Near Field Communication (NFC) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

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1. Near Field Communication (NFC) : 
NFC is a type of short-range high-frequency wireless communication technology and is mainly used for mobile or handheld device. It provides radio communication established by touching two phones or keeping them in a few centimeters. It is easy to target selection by simply holding two devices to each other and used a wireless communication interface for last few centimeters. NFC communication mainly based on induction-coupling which works using magnetic induction between two loops antennas that operates frequency 13.56MHZ and data varies 106 to 424kbit/s. 

There are two types modes in NFC active mode and passive mode. In Active mode, both devices can generate electromagnetic field and exchange information with each other. In passive mode, there is only one active user it contains information that other devices can be read but it does not read any information by itself. 

 

2. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) : 
RFID is an automatic identification method uses Internet. In which data digitally encoded in RFID tag which can be read by a reader which is similar to barcodes and data read from tags are stored in a database by reader. It consists of two parts an integrated circuit and an antenna and tags are covered by protective material which acts as a shield against various environment effect. This may passive and active and passive RFID tag are mostly used tags. 

It derived from (AIDC) Automatic Identification and data capture technology used for data collection and mapping of collected data to computer system. It uses wireless communication and RFID used radio wave to perform AIDC function. 

 

Difference between Near Field Communication (NFC) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) : 

 

Basis off NFC RFID
Developed Near Field Communication technology is introduced in 2002. Radio Frequency Identification technology is introduces in 1980.
Definition Near Field Communication it is a type of short-range high-frequency wireless communication technology and is mainly used for mobile or handheld device. Radio Frequency Identification is an automatic identification method uses Internet, in which data digitally encoded in RFID tag .
Tags Near Field Communication tags are passive in nature. Radio Frequency Identification tags can be both active or passive in nature and also semi passive in nature.
Communication Near Field Communication provides bidirectional communication. Radio Frequency Identification unidirectional communication.
Structure In which only smartphone with in built Near Field Communication. In which we add some extra tags and reader.
Security It provides medium security features. It provides features like miss reading duplication or basic security.
Sampling Sampling is present in Near Field Communication. Sampling is not present in Radio Frequency Identification.
Frequency range. In Near Field Communication we operate only high frequency 13.56mhz and act as both reader and tag.devices must be close proximity due to short read range.

Radio Frequency Identification contain three types of range. 
 

  • Low frequency-125-134khz
  • High frequency-13.56mhz
  • Ultra high frequency-856mhzto 960mhz

 

Popular Uses

Near Field Communication tags are generally used for.. 
 

  • Paying bills using NFC.
  • Tracking car mileage.
  • Sharing data.
  • Sharing and transferring information between two devices by tapping each other.
  • Contactless payment

 

Radio Frequency Identification tags generally used for 
 

  • Asset tracking
  • Tools Tracking
  • Race timing
  • Access control
  • Inventory tracking

 

Range 0.2m 100m
Power Consumption 424kbit/s Varies with frequency.
Setup Medium. Difficult to setup.
Cost Low. High
Maximum Coverage Length 10cm 3m

 


Last Updated : 07 Jul, 2021
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