NFC & Review Technology Glossary: 50+ Terms

A comprehensive reference of 50+ terms related to NFC technology, Google reviews, and reputation management. Whether you are buying NFC review cards for the first time or optimizing your review collection strategy, this glossary covers the terminology you need.

Related: NFC Review Cards Resource Centre | Shop NFC Review Cards

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Active NFC

An NFC device that generates its own radio field to communicate. Smartphones use active NFC when reading tags. Compare with passive NFC (tags/cards that have no battery and are powered by the reader's field).

Android Beam

A deprecated Android feature that used NFC to initiate data transfer between devices. Replaced by Nearby Share in newer Android versions. Not related to NFC tag reading, which remains fully functional on all modern Android phones.

Background Tag Reading

The ability of a phone to detect and read NFC tags without opening an app first. iPhone 7 and newer support background tag reading — the phone automatically detects the tag and shows a notification. This is what makes NFC review cards so frictionless.

Contactless

Communication or payment that occurs without physical contact between devices, using NFC or RFID. NFC review cards use contactless technology — the customer simply holds their phone near the card without touching it.

Core NFC (Apple)

Apple's framework that allows iPhone apps to read NFC tags. Starting with iOS 11 (iPhone 7), iPhones can read NDEF-formatted NFC tags. iOS 13+ added background tag reading without needing an app.

Customer Sentiment

The overall emotional tone of customer feedback, typically classified as positive, negative, or neutral. Google's algorithm analyzes review text for sentiment, and consistently positive sentiment can contribute to ranking signals.

EEPROM

Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory — the type of memory used in NFC tags. Data stored in EEPROM persists without power and can be rewritten thousands of times. This is what allows NFC review cards to be reprogrammed if needed.

GBP (Google Business Profile)

Formerly known as Google My Business (GMB). The free listing that appears in Google Search and Maps for local businesses. Your GBP includes business information, photos, reviews, posts, and Q&A. NFC review cards link directly to your GBP review page.

Google Map Pack

The block of three local business listings that appears with a map at the top of Google search results for local queries. Also called the Local 3-Pack. Review quantity, quality, and recency are major ranking factors for Map Pack placement.

Google Review Link

A direct URL that opens the Google review submission form for a specific business. This is the URL programmed into NFC review cards. The link opens directly to the star-rating selector, bypassing all navigation steps.

Inductive Coupling

The electromagnetic mechanism by which NFC devices communicate. The reader's antenna generates a magnetic field that powers the passive tag's antenna and enables data transfer. This is why NFC works through materials like plastic card holders but not through metal.

ISO 14443

The international standard for contactless smart cards operating at 13.56 MHz. NFC technology is built on ISO 14443. This standard defines the communication protocols used between NFC readers (phones) and tags (review cards).

Local Pack

See Google Map Pack. The top three local business results displayed with a map in Google Search results.

Local SEO

Search engine optimization focused on improving a business's visibility in local search results and the Map Pack. Reviews are a top-3 ranking factor for local SEO alongside Google Business Profile optimization and proximity to the searcher.

NAP Consistency

Having the same Name, Address, and Phone number across all online listings (Google, Yelp, Yellow Pages, etc.). Inconsistent NAP data confuses search engines and can hurt local search rankings.

NDEF (NFC Data Exchange Format)

The standard data format for storing information on NFC tags. NDEF messages contain one or more records, each holding a piece of data such as a URL, text, or contact information. NFC review cards store a single NDEF URL record pointing to your Google review page.

Near Field Communication (NFC)

A set of wireless communication protocols that enable devices to exchange data when brought within approximately 4 cm of each other. Operates at 13.56 MHz. Used in contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay), access cards, and review cards. Every modern smartphone includes NFC.

NFC Forum

The non-profit industry association that develops and maintains NFC standards and specifications. Members include Apple, Google, Samsung, NXP, and other technology companies. NFC Forum standards ensure interoperability between devices and tags.

NFC Tag

A small, unpowered chip with an antenna that stores data and transmits it when activated by an NFC reader. Tags come in various form factors — stickers, cards, keychains, and embedded in products. NFC review cards contain an NFC tag inside a PVC card body.

NFC Tag Type

NFC Forum defines 5 tag types (Type 1-5). Our review cards use Type 2 tags (NTAG series) which offer the best balance of compatibility, memory, and cost. Type 2 is supported by virtually all NFC-enabled smartphones.

NTAG213

An NFC tag chip made by NXP Semiconductors with 144 bytes of user memory. Sufficient for storing a single URL (like a Google review link). The most affordable NFC chip suitable for review cards.

NTAG215

An NFC tag chip with 504 bytes of user memory. More storage than NTAG213, allowing longer URLs and additional data. A popular choice for review cards that may need reprogramming to different URLs.

NTAG216

An NFC tag chip with 888 bytes of user memory. The largest standard NTAG chip. Used when storing longer data records or multiple records on a single tag. Overkill for simple review link cards but provides maximum flexibility.

Owner Response

A business owner's reply to a Google review. Responding to all reviews (positive and negative) signals engagement to Google and can positively affect rankings. Best practice: respond within 24-48 hours, thank the reviewer by name, and reference specific service details.

Passive NFC

An NFC device that has no internal power source — it is powered by the electromagnetic field of an active NFC reader. NFC review cards are passive devices. They have no battery, never need charging, and function indefinitely.

Place ID

A unique identifier Google assigns to every place in Google Maps. Your Google review link contains your Place ID. If your business moves or changes names, the Place ID may change and your NFC cards will need reprogramming.

Proximity Coupling

The close-range electromagnetic coupling used in NFC communication. Operating distance is approximately 0-4 cm. This short range is a security feature — someone cannot accidentally or remotely read your NFC card from across the room.

QR Code

A two-dimensional barcode that encodes data (typically a URL) readable by a camera. QR codes require opening the camera app, focusing, and tapping a link — more friction than NFC's instant tap. Both methods can link to Google review pages. See our NFC vs QR comparison.

Read Range

The maximum distance at which an NFC reader can detect and communicate with a tag. For standard NFC review cards, read range is 1-4 cm depending on the phone and tag. Phones with larger NFC antennas (like most Android devices) have slightly better range than iPhones.

Reputation Management

The practice of monitoring, influencing, and improving how a business is perceived online. Includes generating positive reviews, responding to negative reviews, and maintaining consistent information across platforms. NFC review cards are a reputation management tool.

Review Gating

The practice of screening customers before directing them to a review platform — typically asking "Were you satisfied?" and only sending happy customers to leave a review. Review gating is explicitly prohibited by Google's policies and can result in review removal or listing suspension.

Review Recency

How recently reviews were posted. Google gives more weight to recent reviews. 73% of consumers only consider reviews written in the last month. NFC cards help maintain a steady stream of fresh reviews rather than sporadic bursts.

Review Schema

Structured data markup (JSON-LD or Microdata) that tells search engines about reviews on your website. Review schema can display star ratings in search results (rich snippets). Note: Google only allows review schema for specific content types and has strict guidelines.

Review Velocity

The rate at which new reviews are posted for a business. A steady, consistent review velocity is better than sudden spikes (which can trigger Google's spam filters). NFC cards promote consistent velocity by making it easy to collect reviews at every customer interaction.

RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification)

A broader category of wireless technology that uses radio waves to identify and track objects. NFC is a subset of RFID operating at 13.56 MHz with a short range (0-4 cm). RFID systems can operate at longer ranges (metres) and different frequencies.

Sentiment Analysis

Automated analysis of review text to determine the emotional tone (positive, negative, neutral). Google uses sentiment analysis internally. Businesses can use third-party tools to analyze their review sentiment trends over time.

Star Rating

The 1-5 star score on Google reviews. The #1 factor consumers use to evaluate a local business. Businesses with 4.0+ stars are considered trustworthy. The average Google rating for a local business is approximately 4.1 stars.

Tap to Review

The user action of holding a smartphone near an NFC review card to open the Google review page. The entire interaction takes less than 2 seconds from tap to seeing the review form on screen.

URI Record

An NDEF record type that stores a Uniform Resource Identifier (URL). This is the record type stored on NFC review cards — a single URI pointing to the business's Google review page.

Write Protection

A security feature that locks an NFC tag so its data cannot be changed. Our review cards ship unlocked (writeable) so you can update the URL if needed. You can optionally lock the card after programming to prevent unauthorized changes.

Related Resources

• NFC Review Cards — Complete Guide
• Shop NFC Review Cards
• Shop Custom Stickers & Labels