RFID Basics

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Contributors: Nate, Toni_K, a_cavis
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Basics

Basic Functionality

It may be tempting to believe that RFID functions thanks to the reader module containing a very small hamster with x-ray eyes, but in actuality, the system is a bit simpler than that.

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How RFID doesn't work

RFID uses radio waves produced by a reader to detect the presence of (then read the data stored on) an RFID tag. Tags are embedded in small items like cards, buttons, or tiny capsules.

RFID System

Image courtesy of EPC RFID

These readers also use radio waves in some systems to write new information to the tags.