NFC Reading Tag Basics and Implementation

NFC reading tags are a convenient way to store and share data, but before you can start using them, you need to understand the basics.

To read an NFC tag, you'll need an NFC-enabled device, such as a smartphone or a tablet.

NFC tags can be read from a distance of up to 2 cm, but for optimal reading, it's best to bring your device close to the tag.

The data stored on an NFC tag can be accessed by tapping your device on the tag.

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To get started with NFC reading tags, you'll need to meet some basic requirements.

You'll need to integrate a Terminal API, which is a specific type of integration.

To read NFC tags, you'll need an Adyen payment terminal that supports the NFC tags you want to use.

There are some limitations to consider. Hiding the Adyen UI for stored value cards and identity cards is only supported for certain terminal models and software versions.

Here's a breakdown of the supported terminal models and software versions:

Before you begin, you'll need to provide our Support Team with some information so they can create your NFC configuration.

To use NFC tags on Adyen payment terminals, you'll need to make a card acquisition request to identify, read, or write to an NFC tag. This can involve multiple requests, so be sure to check out the section on creating a session for more information.

The terminal will then prompt the user to present their NFC tag or NFC-enabled card. This is a crucial step, as the user needs to physically interact with the terminal.

The user presents their NFC tag by tapping, inserting, or swiping it into the terminal. This is where the magic happens, and the terminal starts reading or writing to the NFC tag.

While the terminal is making one or multiple read/write requests to the NFC tag, it will show a "One moment loading screen" to keep the user informed. This is a standard process, and you'll see this screen in action.

If you want to use a dedicated Android app to process NFC operations, you can hide the Adyen UI and keep your app's UI in the foreground. This is a great option if you're looking for a more seamless user experience.

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Reading and writing data on NFC tags can be done with specific parameters. To read data, you need to specify where to read it from, which can be a sector, aid, or page, depending on the tag type.

For MIFARE Classic, MIFARE DESFire, or MIFARE Ultralight tags, you need to include the key to read data from a sector, aid, or page. This information can be found in the relevant documentation for each tag type.

To write data, you need to specify the sector, aid, or page where to write it to, which is also different for each tag type. The data structure is unique for every NFC tag type, so make sure to check the specifications for your specific tag.

If you're using an external NFC reader, you can write URLs, text, or business cards to NFC tags using the NFC21 Writer software. This software also allows you to set up write protection and write to NFC tags in series with a business license.

Here are some ways to read and write NFC tags:

Reading data from NFC tags is a straightforward process that requires a device with NFC capabilities. You can use an Android smartphone, Windows smartphone, or iPhone to read NFC tags, and some devices can even read tags automatically without an app.

To read an NFC tag, you'll need to hold the device within a short distance (about 1 cm) of the tag. This will activate the tag and allow the device to read its contents. You can use an app to read the tag, but many devices can do it automatically.

If you're using an Android phone, you can simply close the app and hold the device over the NFC tag to read its contents. This can launch a URL or show the encoded text. Some Android phones can even read NFC tags without an app.

If you're using a Windows PC, you'll need an external NFC reader connected to the PC via a USB port to read NFC tags. You can use the NFC21-Reader to read NFC tags in Windows.

Here are some examples of how to read NFC tags on different devices:

Writing data to NFC tags can be a bit tricky, but it's definitely doable. You need to specify the sector, aid, or page where you want to write the data, and this varies depending on the type of NFC tag.

For MIFARE Classic, MIFARE DESFire, and MIFARE Ultralight tags, you need to select a specific tab to see the parameters you need to specify. This is because the data structure is different for each type of tag.

You can use a connected NFC Writer and the Software NFC21 Writer to write URLs, text, or business cards to NFC tags. This software also allows you to set up write protection and write to multiple tags in series.

If you have multiple URLs and NFC tags, you can use an Excel spreadsheet to write to several NFC tags quickly. This is especially useful if you're trying to write data to multiple tags at once.

To view the contents of an NFC tag, you can simply close the app and hold your Android phone over the tag. This will either launch a URL or show the text that's been encoded.

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Android devices have been equipped with the ability to read NFC tags straight out of the box for many years, offering a user-friendly and streamlined experience.

Most modern Android devices contain NFC radios that can read tags, making NFC hardware support widespread on the platform.

You can read NFC tags on newer Android smartphones without an app, but there are also various apps available for older smartphones that can be used to read the tags.

Here are the key advantages of using Android for reading NFC tags:

Android phones have been equipped with the ability to read NFC tags straight out of the box for many years, offering a user-friendly and streamlined experience. This is in contrast to Apple's iPhones, which often require additional steps.

Most modern Android devices contain NFC radios that can read tags, making it a widespread feature. This is one of the unique advantages of Android for reading NFC tags.

Android offers flexible development environments, allowing developers to access the NFC API using native Java or Kotlin code, as well as cross-platform tools like React Native. This flexibility is a key benefit for developers working with NFC technology.

Android apps can read NFC tags even when the app is closed, giving users more freedom and flexibility. iOS, on the other hand, limits NFC actions to foreground apps only.

To read NFC tags with an Android, you should first check whether the NFC function is activated. If it's not, you can find out how to activate it in the Android settings.

Here's a list of key benefits of using Android for NFC tag reading:

To use NFC in your Android app, you'll need to add the necessary permissions to your Android.Manifest file. This includes the android.permission.NFC permission, as well as a feature declaration for android.hardware.nfc.

If your iPhone has the iOS 13 update or higher, you can read NFC tags without an app.

Unfortunately, for all other iPhones, you'll need an NFC app like NFC21 Tools to read NFC tags.

Apple AirTags can be read with NFC because they're equipped with an NFC chip.

Reading NFC tags with an iPhone is a breeze, and you can find a step-by-step tutorial on how to do it here.

Carefully manage permissions and security by only requesting NFC permission when needed and transmitting sensitive data securely.

Optimize UX flows for quick tag interactions by providing clear scanning instructions and feedback for short NFC transactions.

To support multiple tag types, check the Android API to support anticipated tag formats like NDEF, Mifare, etc.

Handle connectivity issues gracefully by accounting for hardware defects, low batteries, and out-of-range placement when scanning.

If you're building an NFC app, consider comboing with alternate ID technologies like optical barcode scanning as a backup input option.

You can explore new use cases beyond payments, such as storing links, contact info, credentials, interactive content, and more.

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Comply with Play Store requirements by avoiding offensive, dangerous, or misleading NFC tag data.

Creating a blank canvas app with Phone format is the first step to getting started with NFC reading. You can add a Button control and change the button text to Read NFC Tag.

To set up the button, you'll need to double-click it and modify the Text property. This will allow you to change the button text to something more descriptive.

The OnSelect property of the button control should be set to a formula that will add an item to our collection. This formula reads an NFC tag using the ReadNFC() function and displays type information about the result.

Here's a step-by-step guide to creating your NFC reading app:

To scan a tag, click the 'Read' button and hold your phone over the NFC tag. Make sure your phone is not on a metal surface, as this can interfere with the scan. If your phone is not able to scan the NFC tag, check that NFC is turned on in your settings.

You can add additional logic to process your tag's data by using the NfcAdapter class. This can be found within the Android Developer documentation.

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To implement an NFC reading tag, you'll need a compatible device, such as a smartphone or a dedicated reader.

Most modern smartphones have NFC capabilities, making it easy to get started.

The NFC tag can be programmed using a variety of tools, including Android's TagWriter app, which allows you to write and read NFC tags.

Implementation is where the magic happens. To process NFC data, you need to invoke the `processNFCData` method, which can be done in two places: `onNewIntent` and `onResume`.

The `onNewIntent` method is used when reading a tag, and it's the perfect place to call `processNFCData` because it's triggered when an NFC tag is discovered. You can check if the intent is not null and if the action is `NfcAdapter.ACTION_NDEF_DISCOVERED`, and then call `processNFCData` to process the NFC data.

In contrast, `onResume` is used when using Android Beam, and it's also a good place to call `processNFCData`. You can check if the intent's action is `NfcAdapter.ACTION_NDEF_DISCOVERED` and if it's the result of an Android Beam, and then call `processNFCData` to process the NFC data.

Here's a summary of the two places where you can invoke `processNFCData`:

Remember, the choice of where to invoke `processNFCData` depends on your specific use case.

You can use a connected NFC Writer and the Software NFC21 Writer to write URLs, text, or business cards to NFC tags.

This software allows you to set up write protection, so you can control who can read the data on your tags.

With the business license, you can write to NFC tags in series, which is super convenient if you have a lot of data to write.

You can use an Excel spreadsheet to write to multiple NFC tags at once, which saves a lot of time.

To write data to an NFC tag, you need to specify the sector, aid, or page where you want to write the data, depending on the type of NFC tag you're using.

The type of NFC tag you're using will determine the data structure, so make sure you choose the right tab to see the parameters you need to specify.

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You can read NFC tags with a PC using the free software NFC21-Reader and an external NFC reader.

The NFC reader is able to read the NFC tag.

Our starter kit offers a suitable NFC reader including NFC tags to try out.

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Reading NFC tags with a PC is a great way to access the information stored on them. You'll need the free software NFC21-Reader and an external NFC reader to get started.

An external NFC reader is required to read NFC tags on a PC, and our starter kit comes with one included. The NFC reader is able to read the NFC tag, displaying the information in the NFC21 reader software.

Step-by-step instructions for using the NFC21 tools to read NFC tags can be found online.

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To turn on an iPhone, simply charge it and press the power button until you see the Apple logo.

If your iPhone has the iOS 13 update or higher, you can read NFC tags without needing to activate NFC separately.

You can read NFC tags with an iPhone by using an NFC app like NFC21 Tools, but only if your iPhone doesn't have the iOS 13 update or higher.

Apple AirTags can also be read with NFC, thanks to their built-in NFC chip.

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Every NFC tag has a Unique Identification Number, or UID, which is a unique number that identifies the tag.

The UID is used in applications such as access control and login processes, where readers recognise the UID of an NFC tag and grant access to the user.

To read the UID of an NFC tag, you can follow the instructions in the article, which can be found by clicking on the link "Read out NFC tag UID".

NFC tags can store multiple parts of data, and the data structure is different for every NFC tag type, so the request needs to specify where to read the data from.

For some tags, you need to include a key to read data from a sector, aid, or page, depending on the tag type.

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