What is NFC?
The wireless technology behind tap-to-pay — and Tapfolio.
NFC stands for Near Field Communication. It is a short-range wireless technology that allows two devices to exchange data the instant they are held within a few centimetres of each other — typically four centimetres or less.
You have already used NFC. Every time you tap your phone or a card on a payment terminal — at a supermarket, a petrol pump, or a coffee shop — you are using NFC. The same technology powers Tapfolio smart identity cards.
How does NFC work?
NFC uses electromagnetic induction to create a short-range radio field between two devices. When an NFC-enabled phone is held close to an NFC tag (like the chip inside a Tapfolio card), the phone's NFC reader generates a small electromagnetic field that powers the chip — even though the chip has no battery of its own.
Once powered, the chip transmits its stored data back to the phone — in Tapfolio's case, a URL pointing to your professional profile. The phone's operating system picks up the URL and opens it in the browser, without requiring any action beyond the tap itself.
Which phones support NFC?
The vast majority of modern smartphones support NFC:
- iPhone 7 and all later models (2016 onwards)
- All Samsung Galaxy S series phones from 2012 onwards
- Google Pixel phones (all generations)
- OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi flagships and most mid-range Android phones from 2018 onwards
If the receiving phone does not support NFC, or if NFC is disabled, Tapfolio cards also have a QR code printed on the back. Scanning it with any camera app opens the same profile page.
Is NFC safe?
Yes. NFC only activates when two devices are within a few centimetres of each other, and passive NFC tags (like Tapfolio cards) can only broadcast — they cannot read data from your phone. The chip in your Tapfolio card stores only a URL; it cannot access anything on the tapping device.
NFC versus Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
NFC does not require pairing, passwords, or configuration. Unlike Bluetooth, which requires a discovery-and-pairing handshake, NFC works the first time, every time, with zero setup on either side. Unlike Wi-Fi, it works without any infrastructure — no router, no hotspot, no internet connection required on the card itself.
This is precisely why NFC is the right technology for professional networking: it is the fastest, most reliable way to share data between two devices in a face-to-face context.