Lähikenttäviestintä

Lähikenttäviestintä, often abbreviated as NFC, is a set of communication protocols that enable two electronic devices to establish a radio communication with each other by bringing them within a short distance, typically of 4 centimeters or less. NFC is a derivative of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) standards that allows mobile devices to communicate with other NFC-enabled devices. It operates on a frequency of 13.56 MHz and supports a data transfer rate of up to 424 kbit/s.

NFC technology facilitates a variety of applications. One of the most common uses is for contactless payments, where users can tap their NFC-enabled smartphone or card to a payment terminal to complete a transaction. Another prevalent application is the pairing of devices, such as headphones or speakers, by simply bringing them close together. NFC tags, small passive devices, can also be programmed with information and read by an NFC-enabled device to trigger actions, like opening a website, connecting to Wi-Fi, or sending a text message.

The technology is built upon existing RFID infrastructure and operates in two main modes: active and passive. In active mode, both devices generate their own radio frequency field and can exchange information. In passive mode, one device generates the field, and the other device (like an NFC tag) is powered by that field to communicate. NFC is designed for short-range, secure communication, making it suitable for applications where quick and convenient data exchange is required without the need for complex setup.