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How does NFC work?
Quick answer
NFC (Near-Field Communication) works by letting two devices exchange small amounts of data when held very close together, within a few centimeters. It powers contactless payments and transit cards using a short-range radio signal that even works without its own battery.
Step by step
- It's a very short-range wireless technology (a few centimeters).
- Tapping or holding devices close triggers the data exchange.
- A reader's signal can power a passive tag, so it needs no battery.
- It powers contactless payments, transit cards, and key fobs.
- The tiny range is itself a security feature.
People also ask
How does tapping your card or phone to pay work?
NFC exchanges payment data over a tiny-range radio link when you hold the card or phone within a few centimeters of the reader.
Does an NFC card need a battery?
No — passive NFC tags and cards draw power from the reader's signal, which is how contactless cards work without charging.
Is NFC secure?
Its extremely short range limits eavesdropping, and payments add encryption and one-time codes, making it quite secure in practice.
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