How do RFID Tags Work?

An RFID tag works by transmitting and receiving information via an antenna and a microchip — also sometimes called an integrated circuit or IC. The microchip on an RFID reader is written with whatever information the user wants.

Types of RFID Tags

There are two main types of RFID tags: battery-operated and passive.

Battery-operated RFID tags contain an onboard battery as a power supply. Battery-operated RFID tags might also be called active RFID tags.

Passive RFID tags are not battery-powered and instead work by using electromagnetic energy transmitted from an RFID reader.

Passive RFID tags use three main frequencies to transmit information:

1.125 – 134 KHz, also known as Low Frequency (LF)

2.13.56 MHz, also known as High Frequency (HF)

3.Near-Field Communication (NFC), and 865 – 960 MHz, also known as Ultra High Frequency (UHF).

The frequency used to transmit information affects the tag’s range.

When a passive RFID tag is scanned by a reader, the reader transmits energy to the tag which powers it enough for the chip and antenna to relay information back to the reader. The reader then transmits this information back to an RFID computer program for interpretation.