NDEF

NDEF Record

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A single data element within an NDEF message, containing a Type Name Format (TNF), record type, optional ID, and payload. Common record types include URI, Text, Smart Poster, and MIME type records.

    


    
    
    

      Also known as:
      
      NDEF record
      
      record
      
    

    
  


  




  
  

    
What Is an NDEF Record?


An NDEF record is the smallest discrete data element within an NDEF message. Each record encapsulates a single piece of information — URL, text, contact card, or binary data — along with metadata telling the receiving device how to interpret and handle the payload.


Record Header Structure


Every record begins with a 1-byte header containing flags and the TNF:






Bit
Name
Description






7
MB
Message Begin — first record




6
ME
Message End — last record




5
CF
Chunk Flag




4
SR
Short Record (payload length in 1 byte)




3
IL
ID Length present




2-0
TNF
Type Name Format (0x00-0x07)






Following the header: Type Length, Payload Length (1 or 4 bytes), optional ID Length, Type, optional ID, and Payload.


Common Record Types


Well-Known Types (TNF = 0x01)


    

  • "U": URI — web addresses, phone numbers
    • 

  • "T": Text — human-readable text with language code
    • 

  • "Sp": Smart Poster — URI + metadata
    • 



MIME Type Records (TNF = 0x02)


    

  • text/vcard: Contact information
    • 

  • application/vnd.wfa.wsc: Wi-Fi credentials
    • 



External Type Records (TNF = 0x04)



Encoding Efficiency


Records minimize overhead on memory-constrained tags: Short Record flag saves 3 bytes for payloads under 256 bytes, and URI prefix codes compress common prefixes (https:// becomes one byte).


Record Processing


Devices process records in order. The first record determines the primary action (URI opens browser, text displays string). Subsequent records provide context (AAR forces Android app dispatch). Unknown types are silently ignored.


Custom Records


For application-specific data, use External Type records (TNF=0x04) with your reverse domain name. This prevents collisions and allows your app to register as the handler. The payload format is entirely application-defined.

  

  

  
  
  




  
  
Related Terms

  

  

    
    NDEF Message
    
    TNF (Type Name Format)
    
    URI Record
    
    Text Record
    
    Smart Poster
    
    Android Application Record (AAR)
    
  





  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

    
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Frequently Asked Questions


  

    
    

      
      

        
The NFC glossary is a comprehensive reference of technical terms, acronyms, and concepts used in Near Field Communication technology. It is designed for developers, product managers, and engineers who work with NFC and need clear definitions of terms like NDEF, APDU, anti-collision, and ISO 14443.

      

    

    
    

      
      

        
Each glossary term is cross-referenced with related NFC chips, standards, and other terms. For example, the term 'AES-128' links to chips that support AES encryption (NTAG 424 DNA, DESFire EV2/EV3), and the term 'ISO 14443' links to all chips compliant with that standard.

      

    

    
    

      
      

        
Yes. NFCFYI provides glossary definitions in 15 languages including English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Arabic, French, Russian, German, Turkish, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Thai. Use the language selector in the header to switch languages.