How NFC cards work: from a tap to a website
Learn what an NFC card stores, why passive tags need no battery, and how a phone opens a link.
What happens during a tap?
NFC means near-field communication. A compatible phone reads a nearby tag through a short-range radio connection. Passive tags draw power from the reader rather than carrying a battery. NFC Forum explains that tags can store NDEF records, including a web address. The phone interprets that record and may prompt the visitor to open it. [1]
The card and the website do different jobs
For a Standard Tapical link, the physical card provides a permanent URL. After the visitor opens it, Tapical looks up the configured destination and redirects the browser. The NFC read and the online redirect are separate steps. Reading a tag does not by itself provide an internet connection.
Where this is useful
A business card can point to a contact page. A restaurant can share a menu, and a creator can share a social profile. A payment-page link simply opens the chosen payment provider; it is not the same as a contactless bank-card transaction. Choose a destination that explains itself clearly on a small screen.
Before handing a card to someone
Test the complete journey: read the tag, open the notification, and check the final destination. Try the phones your audience uses. A clear tap location and a readable fallback URL help visitors understand what to do. Keep the destination lightweight and avoid requiring sign-in unless it serves a real purpose.
Standard NFC and the Secure roadmap
Standard NFC is intended for everyday sharing and Dashboard-controlled destinations. Tapical Secure is in development, targeting cryptographic card authentication. It is not available to purchase or use. Formal NFC products will be listed separately through Shopify.
Sources and further reading
Continue reading
- How to change an NFC card link without rewriting the card
- NFC security: encryption, authentication and cloning explained