It is a subset of RFID operating at 13.56 MHz, with the useful property that a phone can act as either the card or the reader. That is what makes mobile credentials possible without issuing anyone a plastic card.
The very short range is a security feature rather than a limitation. A credential that only works at a few centimetres is much harder to skim from a pocket than one readable across a corridor.
Common questions
What does NFC (Near Field Communication) mean in simple terms?+
NFC is a short-range wireless standard that lets two devices exchange data when they are within a few centimetres of each other. In a workplace it is what makes a phone or a card work as a door credential when you hold it against a reader.
How does NFC (Near Field Communication) work in practice?+
It is a subset of RFID operating at 13.56 MHz, with the useful property that a phone can act as either the card or the reader. That is what makes mobile credentials possible without issuing anyone a plastic card.
What else should you know about NFC (Near Field Communication)?+
The very short range is a security feature rather than a limitation. A credential that only works at a few centimetres is much harder to skim from a pocket than one readable across a corridor.