NFC stands for Near Field Communication, which is a set of short-range wireless technologies that allow devices like phones and smartwatches to exchange small bits of data with other devices and read NFC-equipped cards over relatively short distances. NFC technology allows users to make secure transactions, exchange digital content, and connect electronic devices with a touch. NFC transmissions are short-range and require the devices to be in close proximity, typically within 4cm or less to initiate a connection.

Android-powered devices with NFC simultaneously support three main modes of operation:

• Reader/writer mode, allowing the NFC device to read and/or write passive NFC tags and stickers.
• P2P mode, allowing the NFC device to exchange data with other NFC peers; this operation mode is used by Android Beam.
• Card emulation mode, allowing the NFC device itself to act as an NFC card. The emulated NFC card can then be accessed by an external NFC reader, such as an NFC point-of-sale terminal.

The most common use of NFC technology in smartphones is making easy payments with mobile payment services like Samsung Pay, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. NFC can also be used to quickly connect with wireless devices and transfer data with Android Beam.

To enable NFC on an Android phone, users can go to their phones settings app and look for the NFC and contactless payments option under the connections menu. Once enabled, users can adjust their settings for contactless payments and select their preferred mobile payment service.