Editing Near-field communication (section)

{{short description|Radio communication established between devices by bringing them into proximity}}
{{distinguish|NFT}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Area networks}}
[[File:PXE1.jpg|thumb|The [[Secure Element]] chip, an NFC chip that contains data such as the Secure Element identifier (SEID) for secure transactions. This chip is commonly found in smartphones and other NFC devices.]]

'''Near-field communication''' ('''NFC''') is a set of [[Communications protocol|communication protocols]] that enables [[data communication|communication]] between two electronic devices over a distance of {{cvt|4|cm|in|frac=4}} or less.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/what-is-nfc-and-why-is-it-in-your-phone-948410 |title=What is NFC? Everything you need to know |newspaper=Tech Radar |first=Cameron |last=Faulkner |date=May 9, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2021 |archive-date=May 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507105945/http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/what-is-nfc-and-why-is-it-in-your-phone-948410 |url-status=live }}</ref> NFC offers a low-speed connection through a simple setup that can be used for the [[bootstrapping]] of capable wireless connections.<ref name="TechEnabler" /> Like other [[proximity card]] technologies, NFC is based on [[inductive coupling]] between two [[electromagnetic coil]]s present on a NFC-enabled device such as a [[smartphone]]. NFC communicating in one or both directions uses a frequency of 13.56&nbsp;MHz in the globally available unlicensed [[radio frequency]] [[ISM band]], compliant with the [[ISO/IEC 18000-3]] air interface standard at data rates ranging from 106 to 848&nbsp;kbit/s.

The [[NFC Forum]] has helped define and promote the technology, setting standards for certifying device compliance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foresman |first=Chris |date=2011-02-09 |title=Near Field Communications: a technology primer |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2011/02/near-field-communications-a-technology-primer/ |access-date=2023-09-03 |publisher=Ars Technica }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Home - NFC Forum |url=http://nfc-forum.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226191453/http://nfc-forum.org/ |archive-date=December 26, 2015 |access-date=January 1, 2016 |website=NFC Forum |language=en-US}}</ref> Secure communications are available by applying encryption algorithms as is done for credit cards<ref name="AboutNFCForum">{{cite web |title=About the Forum |url=http://www.nfc-forum.org/aboutus/ |publisher=NFC Forum |access-date=7 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511225606/http://www.nfc-forum.org/aboutus/ |archive-date=11 May 2012 }}</ref> and if they fit the criteria for being considered a [[personal area network]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://securosis.com/assets/library/reports/Securosis_Understanding_Tokenization_V.1_.0_.pdf |title=Understanding Tokenization |access-date=2019-04-22 |archive-date=2020-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919001620/https://securosis.com/assets/library/reports/Securosis_Understanding_Tokenization_V.1_.0_.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>