Fundamentals

NFC Tag

<\/script>\n
'; }, get iframeSnippet() { const domain = '{ SITE_DOMAIN }'; const type = '{ embed_type }'; const slug = '{ embed_slug }'; return ''; }, get activeSnippet() { return this.method === 'script' ? this.scriptSnippet : this.iframeSnippet; }, copySnippet() { navigator.clipboard.writeText(this.activeSnippet).then(() => { this.copied = true; setTimeout(() => { this.copied = false; }, 2000); }); } }" @keydown.escape.window="open = false" @click.outside="open = false">

Embed This Widget

Theme


      
    


    
    

      Widget powered by
      .
      Free, no account required.
    

  





    
    

      
A small, unpowered electronic device containing an NFC chip and antenna that stores data and transmits it wirelessly when brought near an NFC reader. Tags are passive devices that harvest energy from the reader's RF field.

    


    
    
    

      별칭:
      
      NFC tag
      
      tag
      
    

    
  


  




  
  

    
NFC Tag


An NFC tag is a small, unpowered electronic device consisting of an
NFC chip bonded to an NFC antenna.
Tags are passive — they contain no battery and harvest all operating energy from the
RF field generated by an NFC reader or
NFC-enabled device. This passivity enables tags to
function for decades without maintenance, making them ideal for embedding in products,
packaging, and infrastructure.


Tag Architecture


Every NFC tag contains three essential subsystems:


    

  1. RF front-end: The antenna coil and rectifier circuitry that harvests energy from
   the reader's electromagnetic field via inductive coupling and
   generates the regulated voltage needed to power the chip.
    2. 

  2. Digital logic: The state machine or microcontroller that processes commands
   (READ, WRITE, AUTH), manages memory blocks, and enforces
   access control through lock bits or
   password protection.
    3. 

  3. EEPROM memory: Non-volatile storage organized into user memory
   for application data and reserved areas for the UID,
   capability container, and configuration bytes.
    4. 



NFC Forum Tag Types


The NFC Forum defines five tag types mapped to underlying ISO
standards:






Type
Standard
Example Chips
Memory Range






Type 1
ISO 14443A (Topaz)
Topaz 512
96-512 bytes




Type 2
ISO 14443 A
NTAG 213, NTAG 216
48-888 bytes




Type 3
JIS X 6319-4
FeliCa Lite-S
1-9 KB




Type 4
ISO 14443 A/B
MIFARE DESFire EV3
2-32 KB




Type 5
ISO 15693
ICODE SLIX2
256 bytes-64 KB






Practical Considerations


Tag selection involves balancing memory capacity, security features, read range, and
cost. A simple URL redirect needs only 48 bytes of user memory
(NTAG 210), while a product authentication system requires AES encryption
and SDM capabilities found in the NTAG 424 DNA.
The physical form factor — wet inlay, dry inlay, label, card, or keyfob — is determined
by the deployment environment.

  

  

  
  
  




  
  
Related Terms

  

  

    
    NFC Chip (IC)
    
    Form Factor
    
    Passive Tag
    
    Encoding
    
  





  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

    
Related Content

    

      
      
        

          
          
What Is NFC? A Complete Introduction

          
          Getting Started
          
        

        
        
        
…target devices. For a deeper dive into tag variants, see NFC Tag Types Explained .

        
      
      
      
        

          
          
NFC Tag Types Explained

          
          Getting Started
          
        

        
        
        
NFC Tag Types Explained The NFC Forum defines five standardized…

        
      
      
      
        

          
          
How to Read and Write NFC Tags

          
          Getting Started
          
        

        
        
        
…This guide covers the complete workflow from tapping a tag to persisting structured data. Reading Tags When an…

        
      
      
      
        

          
          
NFC Chips Compared

          
          Getting Started
          
        

        
        
        
…introduces sun-message (Secure Unique NFC Message) — the tag generates an AES-CMAC over a counter and UID, appended to…

        
      
      
      
        

          
          
NFC for Beginners: Your First Project

          
          Getting Started
          
        

        
        
        
…to "Read" mode. Hold the back of your phone over an NFC tag and hold still for 0.5 seconds. The app displays the tag's…

        
      
      
      
        

          
          
NFC Troubleshooting Guide

          
          Getting Started
          
        

        
        
        
…Wrong operating-frequency : Verify the tag is a 13.56 MHz NFC tag and not a 125 kHz LF RFID tag. LF tags look similar but…

        
      
      
      
        

          
          
NFC vs RFID: Detailed Comparison

          
          Getting Started
          
        

        
        
        
…Use the Compatibility Checker to verify that your chosen NFC tag type is readable by your target devices. See Also What Is…

        
      
      
      
        

          
          
Android NFC Programming Guide

          
          Programming
          
        

        
        
        
…s NdefRecord Single record: TNF + type + ID + payload Tag Represents a discovered physical tag Ndef NDEF operations…

        
      
      
    

  

  

  
  




  
자주 묻는 질문


  

    
    

      
      

        
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.