NFC, or near field communications, is a technology built into most modern smartphones, laptops, and other consumer electronics. It facilitates the transfer of data such as credentials, documents, and photos between nearby devices without the need for an internet connection.

NFC is an extension of RFID (radio frequency identification), a form of passive communication. A short-range radio field can trigger an RFID chip or tag to emit a short radio signal, an interaction that allows the reader to use the RFID signal to identify a person or object.

RFID technology is used in many of the security badges used by companies and other entities. Such a badge is linked to a database, which allows the reader to check the ID to verify whether the user is allowed access or not. The technology has also become popular in video games thanks to toys-to-life games such as Disney Infinity and Nintendo Amiibo, which use action figures to store data.

While RFID is useful for tasks such as identifying products in a warehouse, it is only a one-way transmission system. NFC was developed to facilitate the same type of transmission between two devices. For example, NFC makes it possible to improve security by having the scanner also update security permissions in a security badge.