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Electronic Component
Updated September 22, 2025
RFID tag
An RFID tag is a small electronic device that stores data. It wirelessly transmits that information to a reader when it is nearby.
Category
Electronic Component
Use Case
Tracking and identifying objects wirelessly
Key Features
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Unique Electronic Identification Code
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Wireless Communication With Readers
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Small And Durable Physical Form
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Data Storage On Microchip
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No Internal Power Source Needed
In Simple Terms
What It Is
An RFID tag is a tiny electronic device that can store and send out information wirelessly. Think of it like a digital barcode that doesn’t need to be seen or scanned directly to work. It’s made up of a small chip and an antenna, and it’s often embedded in a sticker, card, or even a small plastic casing. When an RFID reader (a device that sends out radio waves) comes near the tag, the tag uses the energy from those waves to power up and transmit its stored data back to the reader. No batteries are needed for most types.
Why People Use It
People use RFID tags because they make tracking and identifying things fast, easy, and automatic. Unlike barcodes, which have to be lined up and scanned one by one, RFID tags can be read from a distance, through materials, and many at once. This saves a lot of time and reduces errors. They’re great for keeping inventory in stores, managing access to buildings, or even keeping tabs on pets. Because the process is wireless and quick, it helps businesses and individuals be more efficient and organized.
Everyday Examples
You’ve probably used or seen RFID tags without even realizing it. Many modern key cards for offices or hotels use RFID—you just tap the card on a reader to unlock a door. Some public transit systems use RFID-enabled cards or tokens for fare payment. In retail, stores often attach RFID tags to clothing or electronics to prevent theft and manage stock. Even your pet might have a tiny RFID chip implanted under its skin, which a vet can scan to find your contact information if your furry friend ever gets lost.
Technical Details
Definition
An RFID tag is a small electronic device that uses radio frequency identification technology to store and wirelessly transmit data to a reader. It is a fundamental component of an RFID system, which is designed for automatic identification and data capture (AIDC). Tags are attached to objects, animals, or people to provide a unique digital identifier and, in some cases, store additional information.
How It Works
The tag operates by receiving an electromagnetic interrogation signal from an RFID reader. When the tag enters the reader's activation field, it is powered. Passive tags harvest energy from the reader's signal to power their internal circuitry, while active tags use an internal battery. Once powered, the tag's microchip modulates the incoming radio waves and reflects a signal back to the reader. This reflected signal contains the digitally stored information from the tag's memory. The reader captures this signal, decodes the data, and typically forwards it to a host computer system for processing.
Key Components
Microchip (Integrated Circuit): The silicon component that contains the logic circuitry, modulates and demodulates the radio signal, and stores the tag's data, including a unique identifier (UID).
Antenna: A conductive element, often a coiled or printed pattern, that receives the radio waves from the reader, harvests energy, and transmits the modulated response signal back.
Substrate: The material, such as plastic or paper, onto which the antenna and microchip are mounted, forming the physical structure of the tag.
Encapsulation/Housing: A protective covering, like a plastic laminate or hard epoxy case, that shields the internal components from environmental stress, physical damage, and moisture.
Battery (Active & Semi-Passive Tags only): An internal power source that enables the tag to broadcast a signal over a longer range without relying solely on the reader's energy.
Antenna: A conductive element, often a coiled or printed pattern, that receives the radio waves from the reader, harvests energy, and transmits the modulated response signal back.
Substrate: The material, such as plastic or paper, onto which the antenna and microchip are mounted, forming the physical structure of the tag.
Encapsulation/Housing: A protective covering, like a plastic laminate or hard epoxy case, that shields the internal components from environmental stress, physical damage, and moisture.
Battery (Active & Semi-Passive Tags only): An internal power source that enables the tag to broadcast a signal over a longer range without relying solely on the reader's energy.
Common Use Cases
Supply Chain & Inventory Management: Tracking products from manufacturing to retail shelves for real-time inventory visibility and loss prevention.
Access Control: Providing secure entry to buildings, rooms, or parking garages via RFID-enabled key fobs or ID cards.
Asset Tracking: Monitoring the location and status of high-value equipment, tools, and IT assets within a facility.
Contactless Payments: Enabling transactions through credit/debit cards, key fobs, or wearable devices.
Animal Identification: Implanting or attaching tags to livestock and pets for ownership records and health monitoring.
* Toll Collection: Automatically deducting fees from a pre-paid account as vehicles pass through a toll booth (e.g., E-ZPass).
Access Control: Providing secure entry to buildings, rooms, or parking garages via RFID-enabled key fobs or ID cards.
Asset Tracking: Monitoring the location and status of high-value equipment, tools, and IT assets within a facility.
Contactless Payments: Enabling transactions through credit/debit cards, key fobs, or wearable devices.
Animal Identification: Implanting or attaching tags to livestock and pets for ownership records and health monitoring.
* Toll Collection: Automatically deducting fees from a pre-paid account as vehicles pass through a toll booth (e.g., E-ZPass).
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