A contactless IC card is a card containing an integrated circuit (IC) that communicates with a reader wirelessly at close range, without being inserted into a slot or making direct electrical contact. ISO/IEC 14443 defines a widely used family of proximity cards, but the standard does not make every card behave alike: its purpose, data, security features, and reader compatibility depend on the system that uses it.
What “contactless” means
The card and reader exchange information through a contactless interface when the card is brought within the reader’s operating range. The card does not need to touch exposed electrical contacts. The Secure Technology Alliance describes the general ISO/IEC 14443 proximity-card distance as less than 10 cm (4 inches); this is category context, not a guaranteed range for every card, reader, or environment. Secure Technology Alliance: About Smart Cards FAQ
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“IC card” identifies the presence of an integrated circuit; “contactless” describes how it communicates with a reader. Those terms alone do not tell you what information the card stores, what it is used for, or what security protections it has.
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A reader initiates communication with a nearby proximity object. The card and reader then follow procedures for detection, selection, initialization, and data exchange. ISO/IEC 14443 divides these functions across separate parts rather than defining one universal application for all cards.
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- It not only supports Mifare cards and Class A and B cards conforming to the ISO 14443 standard, but also supports NFC and FeliCa contactless technology.
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Detection and selection
ISO/IEC 14443-3 covers polling for cards entering the reader’s field, initial frames and timing, initialization, selection, and anticollision for Type A and Type B objects. Anticollision procedures allow the reader to handle situations where multiple objects are present. The ISO catalog identifies the 2018 record as Edition 4, published in July 2018; its catalog entry also lists an amendment and a draft successor under development. ISO: ISO/IEC 14443-3:2018
Data transmission
ISO/IEC 14443-4 specifies a half-duplex block transmission protocol and activation and deactivation sequences, also for Type A and Type B objects. IEC lists ISO/IEC 14443-4:2018 as a published standard. These protocol rules support communication; they do not by themselves specify what a particular card application does with the exchanged data. IEC: ISO/IEC 14443-4:2018
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Contactless IC card, proximity card, NFC, and vicinity card
- Contactless IC card or contactless smart card: A card-form device with an integrated circuit that communicates through a contactless interface.
- Proximity card: The ISO/IEC 14443 category for close-range communication; the standard covers Type A and Type B objects.
- NFC: A related technology context, including interoperability between consumer NFC mobile devices and transit systems. “NFC” and “contactless IC card” are not interchangeable names for every implementation.
- Vicinity card: A related but distinct category covered by ISO/IEC 15693. IEC describes a 13.56 MHz reader-generated field for vicinity cards and notes uses such as access to goods or services and tracking nearby objects. Do not assume that proximity and vicinity cards are the same category or that all implementations have one universal range. IEC: ISO/IEC 15693-2:2006
Where contactless IC cards are used
Contactless payment cards and public-transport fare media are examples, not a definition of the whole category. A contactless IC card could serve a different purpose, and its application and security design depend on the system.
Public-transport systems may add interoperability requirements for their readers and fare media. ISO/IEC TS 24192-1:2021 addresses communication between contactless readers and fare media used in public transport and discusses interoperability with consumer NFC mobile devices. That does not mean every transit card works with every reader or NFC phone. ISO: ISO/IEC TS 24192-1:2021
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- Built-in antenna for contactless tag access, with card reading distance of up to 50 mm (depending on tag type)
- Supports ISO 14443 Type A and B cards, MIFARE, FeliCa, and all 4 types of NFC (ISO/IEC 18092) tags
What the definition does—and does not—tell you
- It tells you that the card contains an integrated circuit and communicates with a reader without direct electrical contact.
- It does not establish the card’s application, stored data, security behavior, supported protocol, or compatibility with a particular reader.
- ISO/IEC 14443 describes proximity-card communication procedures, while ISO/IEC 15693 covers a distinct vicinity-card series.
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