NFC, or near field communication, is a popular wireless technology that allows you to transfer data between two devices that are in close proximity to each other. It is often used as a faster and more secure alternative to QR codes for other short-range applications like mobile payments. Practically, there’s not much to the technology — you have electronic reader devices that allow you to read data from various NFC tags.
NFC tags are surprisingly versatile and tend to be useful in situations where you might want to transfer small amounts of data effortlessly. After all, tapping a surface takes less time and effort than using Bluetooth pairing or other conventional wireless communication methods. Digital cameras and headphones, for example, have embedded NFC tags that you can tap to quickly initiate a connection with the device.
