Everyone often stays confused between the two mainstream technologies RFID and NFC. But here, we’ll break down both of these technologies. What these are and what are the differences or similarities between them.
So without further ado, let’s dive in:
What is RFID?
RIFD stands for Radio Frequency Identification. RIFD is a type of technology which is used for quick transmission of data across a place. Unlike other manual systems, this type of technology uses radio signals to identify tags. This technology indentifies objects automatically with its new technology. This type of technology is not interrupted by any manual disturbance.
RFID technology belongs to the Automatic Identification and Data Capture.. The RFID technology is used to acquire data using radio signals and then transmits the data to the computer without involving any kind of human intervention. This is what makes RFID the best type of computer in town. Moreover, it consists of the following components which enable it to work:
- RFID antenna
- RFID reader
- RFID tag
Applications:
RFID technology is used in many different places. Its ever-increasing popularity also states the same
- Used in inventory management
- Used in supply chain related stuff
- Asset tracking
Since the World War, it has been used quite extensively. The US government issued mandates for its retention. Bar code readers are another thing which is in competition with this technology. But the data holding capacity of this technology cannot be compared to barcode reader.
What is NFC?
NFC is a technology which has been derived from Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). This technology also uses radio signals to identify tags but in a much shorter range. NFC, just like RFID is transmitted through electromagnetic coupling. Although this technology has been derived from RFID, this technology is a bit different. And one needs to get hold of the differences between the two.
What Are the Differences Between the Two?
In order to understand both of these technologies better, we need to list down their differences. So as we delve in RFID vs NFC, the major differences are:
1. Working Frequency:
The working frequency is the biggest difference between the two technologies. Firstly the NFC technically has a frequency of 13.56 MHz. Now if we consider the RFID technology, we’ll know that, the least frequency is the 125KHz and the higher it goes, it first increases up to 13.56 MHz frequency and then 860-960 MHz approximately.
2. Working Distance:
The working distance varies between the two technologies. For NFC, the working distance is somewhere between 0-20 meters. However due to the latest power suppression technology, this has been decreased up to 0-10 meters. This guarantees better security as the data stays just between two people. The other category of RFID technology has different ranges given its varying frequencies.
3. Working Mode:
The working mode is another huge difference between the two technologies. The NFC card technology supports both read-write mode and card mode. However in the case of RFID technology, card-reader and contactless card are two different technologies which cannot be switched.
