QR & NFC
What Is NFC and How Does NFC Work?
NFC explained simply: how phones read tags a few centimetres away with no battery in the tag, what NFC can store, which phones support it, and everyday uses.
By uTapiT Team · Guide · 23 September 2026 · 4 min read
Key takeaways
- NFC is short-range wireless communication that works over a few centimetres.
- Tags have no battery — the phone powers them when it comes close.
- A tag usually holds a small piece of data, such as a web link.
- Most modern phones support it; iPhone XS and later read tags without an app.
If you've tapped your phone or card to pay, you've used NFC. The same technology lets a phone read a small tag — in a card, sticker or stand — just by touching it.
How NFC works
- 1The phone creates a small electromagnetic field around its NFC antenna.
- 2When a tag comes within a few centimetres, the field powers the tag's chip — no battery needed.
- 3The chip sends back the data it stores, usually a web link.
- 4The phone shows a notification or opens the link.
What NFC can store
Tags hold small amounts of data in a standard format: a web link, contact details, Wi-Fi settings or plain text. For businesses, a web link is the most useful — it can open a review page, menu or profile.
Which phones support it
- Most modern Android phones — NFC usually needs to be switched on in settings.
- iPhone XS and later read tags in the background, without an app.
- Some budget phones have no NFC, so a QR code alongside is a good fallback.
Everyday uses
- Contactless payments.
- Transit cards.
- Digital business cards.
- Review cards and table stands.
- Product information on shelves.
Frequently asked questions
- Is NFC the same as Bluetooth?
- No. Bluetooth works over metres and needs pairing; NFC works over a few centimetres and needs no pairing — you just tap.
- Can NFC read my phone's data from across the room?
- No. NFC only works over a very short distance, typically a few centimetres, and reading a tag only opens what the tag contains.
uTapiT review cards and stands use NFC so customers can tap straight to your review page.
See review cards and standsKeep reading