NFC = i.e. "Near Field Communication", is a technology for two-way contactless communication between two devices over a short distance, which works on the principle of radio-frequency waves with a frequency of 13.56 MHz. NFC is defined by the ISO 18092 standard.
NFC chip = the basis of every functional NFC communication. It is a miniature integrated circuit made from a semiconductor crystal. Imagine it as a small processor that controls the whole communication and at the same time serves as storage for data intended for sharing. Chips can be either passive (without their own power source) or active (equipped with their own batteries or accumulator – e.g. a mobile phone).
Chip capacity = the total amount of memory the chip has. A certain part of the memory is reserved for system data, the rest of the capacity serves for writing data by the user. It is stated in bytes.
User memory = the amount of the chip's memory that is intended for writing data by the user. It is the difference between the total memory capacity and the part of it taken up by system data. It is stated in bytes.
NFC antenna = an inseparable part of functional NFC communication. In essence rather a conductive induction coil that is attached to the passive NFC chip. On contact with radio waves from an active NFC device, the antenna is easily charged with energy by means of electromagnetic induction. The otherwise passive chip uses this energy to send the information stored on it to the NFC device that is emitting the waves.
Bonded joint = is the joint between the chip and the antenna. If the joint is broken, no transfer of data into or out of the chip is possible. It is the most fragile part of every NFC tag.
NFC tag = the term for the most commonly available passive NFC device, made up of a chip and an antenna joined by a bonded joint, which are, for protective and practical reasons, placed between two thin layers of plastic or paper. Besides these two layers, every NFC tag additionally has one more adhesive layer, so it can be used like a classic sticker. The top layer is most often white or transparent, so the structure of the whole tag is visible through it. Tags are most often round, but square or rectangular tags are also used. In terms of size they fall somewhere between a small coin and a payment card and are supplied on a transfer film.
Dry inlay = a form of technical execution of the chip and antenna. It is most often used for embedding into some larger object or packaging already during its production. Unlike the NFC tag, where two layers of covering material are used, the dry inlay has only one layer, onto which the chip with the antenna is glued, so they are not protected at all on one side and the bonded joint can easily be broken.
Sealed inlay = a form of technical execution of the chip and antenna. The chip with the antenna is placed between two transparent layers of plastic film, so they are protected, but have no adhesive layer. They are most often used already in the production of more complex NFC objects and into packaging.
Wet inlay = a form of technical execution of the chip and antenna, which are placed between two layers of covering material, one of which is adhesive. In its execution it may resemble an NFC tag, but the latter has not two but a total of three layers (2 covering, 1 adhesive). The wet inlay is used both in production and among ordinary users; it is cheaper, but less durable than an NFC tag.
NFC label = this is what we have named an NFC tag that has its top layer printed with some motif, text or image. Simply put, it is not white or clear, but nicely coloured.
NFC card = a contactless chip card made of plastic or paper. As a rule, all (not only NFC) cards have the standardised size CR80. In English the name smart card is used for them. They most often appear in our wallets and serve various purposes – above all payment, loyalty, customer, gift, discount, ID and access cards, etc.
NFC reader = a device that can receive information from another NFC device. NFC readers capture waves on the frequency of 13.56 MHz, which is the only frequency on which NFC can communicate. Some readers may be multifunctional, so they can also process other frequencies (e.g. RFID), or, besides reading, can perform other advanced functions such as writing data, card emulation, peer-to-peer communication and the like.
NFC object = products that serve some everyday purpose, e.g. key fobs, wristbands, pens, etc., and in which an NFC chip with an antenna is contained. We do not include in them electronic devices and cards, which have their own categories.
NFC passive device = does not have its own power source; it is charged only for the time during which data transfer takes place, by means of electromagnetic induction supplied to it by a second NFC device. Data transfer between two passive NFC devices is not possible.
NFC active device = has its own power source (batteries, accumulator). When communicating with a passive device, it supplies it, by means of a magnetic field, with part of its energy and thereby "activates" it for the time needed for data transfer. Communication is also possible between two active devices.
Reading distance index = serves as a unit of measure for capturing the distance that is necessary for successful data transfer between two NFC devices. We give it in values of 1 – 10; the more, the better. NFC, translated as "communication of two near fields", works only on the frequency of 13.56 MHz, which in turn works only over a short distance, in laboratory conditions at most 10 cm; in practice, from which this index also derives, it is about 0 – 5 cm. So if the index is 1, it basically means that the devices must touch for data transfer to occur, while a value of 10 indicates that the transfer will work even at an approximate distance of 5 cm and more. A good value can be considered 4 and more, an excellent one then 7 and more. We state the index for all NFC tags and labels we have in our range, but it must be taken into account that it also depends on the strength of the second device participating in the communication. For example, mobile phones do not have as good a signal as special NFC readers.
Peer-to-peer = communication of two active NFC devices (for example a phone and a reader, or a phone with a phone); it works on the principle of pairing.
Electromagnetic induction = a form of arranging energy thanks to which contactless transfer of information from one device to another can take place. It is a phenomenon in which voltage arises in the electrical circuit of a conductor. The conductor must be placed in a closed magnetic field for it to be induced.
Magnetic field = a physical field whose source is a moving electric charge. It can be observed around electrical conductors and permanent magnets, and our planet has its own too. It can also be induced by manipulating electrical energy.
NDEF = the format in which files are transferred using NFC technology. It stands for NFC Data Exchange Format.
RFID = (Radio Frequency Identification) is a technology for recognising radio-frequency devices.
SE = (Secure Element) is the abbreviation for a secure environment for storing sensitive data.
MNO = (Mobile Network Operator) denotes a provider of mobile services / a mobile operator.
ISO standard = a standard of the International Organization for Standardization
NFC Forum = a non-profit organisation that defines everything to do with NFC. It is the creator of the ISO 18092 standard, which covers all the specifications, parameters and details about what NFC actually is and how it is recognised.
NFC Forum Specifications = a total of 4 Types of NFC that comply with the ISO 18092 standard and may lawfully be designated as fully NFC compatible. Most commonly used tags fall into Type 2.
NXP = a global semiconductor manufacturer, one of whose branches is also the production of NFC chips (not tags). Originally a Dutch company with revenues in the billions, it is the global leader in NFC technology. Its brands are e.g.: Mifare (Ultralight) and NTAG (203, 210, 213, 216).
Broadcom = after NXP, the second largest company manufacturing NFC chips; Broadcom is based in the USA and produces, for example, chips under the TOPAZ 512 brand.
NXP TagInfo = a mobile application for Android, which is free to download and thanks to which you can find out all the information about an NFC chip. Just enable NFC on your smartphone, open the NFCTagInfo application, and within a second the chip manufacturer, total capacity, user memory and other interesting parameters will be displayed to you. The application was developed by NXP.
NXP TagWriter = a handy mobile application for Android; it is free to download and thanks to it you can format NFC tags (labels, cards…), upload content onto them, erase their content and also lock them. The application was developed by NXP.
Landing page = a standalone web page that is shown to the user, for example after clicking on an advertising field
Click to call = a service that allows a website visitor to initiate a call to a specific number by pressing a button placed on the website.
Mobile website = a simplified website optimised for mobile phones with a view to fast loading and clarity.
Check-in = announcing oneself at a certain place using a mobile phone and geolocation social networks (Foursquare, Facebook, Google+)