Glossary

Anticollision protocols enable RFID readers to identify and communicate with multiple tags simultaneously in the interrogation zone without data corruption.

ATQA is the 2-byte response from ISO 14443 Type A cards during initial anticollision. Critical for card detection and communication setup in NFC systems.

Backscatter is the passive communication method used by unpowered RFID tags to transmit data by reflecting and modulating the reader's electromagnetic field.

CMAC is a block cipher-based message authentication code used in NFC and RFID systems to verify data integrity and authenticate secure communications.

Common Criteria (CC) is an international security certification standard (ISO/IEC 15408) used to evaluate cryptographic implementations in RFID tags and NFC devices.

Dual interface refers to smart cards and secure elements supporting both contactless (RFID/NFC) and contact-based communication interfaces on a single chip.

EEPROM endurance defines the number of write/erase cycles an RFID/NFC tag's memory can withstand before failure. Critical for rewritable tag applications.

Energy harvesting in RFID/NFC systems: how passive tags extract power from reader RF fields to operate without batteries. Essential for contactless design.

EPC Memory is dedicated storage in RFID tags holding unique product identifiers. Learn about memory structure, capacity, and encoding for inventory systems.

Kill Password is a permanent security feature in EPC Gen2 RFID tags that irreversibly disables a tag when authenticated, preventing further read operations.

Load modulation enables passive RFID/NFC tags to transmit data by varying their antenna impedance, modulating the reader's electromagnetic field for backscatter communication.

NDEF is the standardized data format for NFC devices, defining how data is structured and exchanged between NFC tags and readers in interoperable applications.

Originality Signature is a cryptographic marker embedded in RFID/NFC tags to verify authenticity and prevent cloning. Essential for secure tag authentication.

OTP (One-Time Programmable) memory in RFID/NFC tags allows permanent data writing once. Learn how OTP memory ensures data integrity and prevents tampering.

Read range is the maximum distance at which an RFID reader can reliably communicate with a tag. Learn about factors affecting range in passive and active systems.

SAK (Select Acknowledge) is a critical byte in ISO 14443 communication that identifies card type and protocol capabilities during NFC/RFID anticollision.

Tearing protection prevents data corruption in RFID/NFC transactions interrupted mid-write. Essential security mechanism for contactless payment and identification systems.

TID (Transponder ID) is a unique, factory-programmed identifier in RFID tags. Learn how this read-only memory bank ensures tag authentication and traceability.

UID (Unique Identifier) is a factory-programmed serial number on RFID/NFC tags used for identification and anti-collision in ISO 14443 and ISO 15693 systems.