Web NFC API

Draft
This page is not complete.

This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The Web NFC API allows exchanging data over NFC via light-weight NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) messages.

Note: Devices and tags have to be formatted and recorded specifically to support NDEF record format to be used with Web NFC. Low-level operations are currently not supported by the API, however there is a public discussion about API that would add such functuionality.

Interfaces

NDEFMessage
Interface that represents NDEF messages that can be received from or sent to a compatible device or tag via NDEFReader and NDEFWriter objects respectively. A message is composed of metadata and NDEF Records.
NDEFReader
Interface that enables reading messages from compatible NFC devices or tags. The messages are represented as NDEFMessage objects.
NDEFRecord
Interface that represents NDEF records that can be included in an NDEF message.
NDEFWriter
Interface used to write NDEFMessages to compatible tags or devices.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Web NFC Draft

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
NDEFReader
Experimental
Chrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox No support NoIE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android No support NoOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
NDEFReader() constructor
Experimental
Chrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox No support NoIE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android No support NoOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
onerror
Experimental
Chrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox No support NoIE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android No support NoOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
onread
Experimental
Chrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox No support NoIE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android No support NoOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
scan
Experimental
Chrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox No support NoIE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android No support NoOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
Secure context requiredChrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox No support NoIE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android No support NoOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No

Legend

No support
No support
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.