In this blog post, we will show you how to turn your iPhone into an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader. RFID technology has a wide range of applications in various industries, including logistics, healthcare, and retail. With a few simple steps, you can transform your iPhone into a versatile RFID reader without the need for any additional hardware.

What is RFID?

RFID is a technology that uses radio waves to identify and track objects. It consists of two main components: an RFID tag and an RFID reader. The tag, which is attached to the object, contains a unique identifier that can be read by the reader. This technology has revolutionized inventory management, access control, and asset tracking systems.

Requirements

Before we begin, you will need the following:

• An iPhone running on iOS 13 or later
• A developer account on Apple's Developer Portal
• Xcode installed on your Mac
• A compatible RFID tag

Step 1: Create a New Xcode Project

First, open Xcode on your Mac and create a new Single View App project. Give it a suitable name and select your desired options. Make sure you choose Swift as the programming language.

Step 2: Add the Core NFC Framework

To enable NFC functionality in your app, you need to add the Core NFC framework. In Xcode, go to your project's settings, select the "Signing & Capabilities" tab, and enable the "Near Field Communication Tag Reading" capability. This will automatically add the Core NFC framework to your project.

Step 3: Handle NFC Reading

In your Xcode project, open the ViewController.swift file. Import the CoreNFC framework by adding the following line at the top of the file:

import CoreNFC

Next, create a new extension for your view controller to implement the NFCReaderSessionDelegate protocol. This will allow you to handle NFC reading events. Add the following code to the ViewController.swift file:

extension ViewController: NFCReaderSessionDelegate {
    
    func readerSession(_ session: NFCReaderSession, didDetect tags: [NFCTag]) {
        // Handle the detected tags
    }
    
    func readerSession(_ session: NFCReaderSession, didInvalidateWithError error: Error) {
        // Handle errors
    }
}

Step 4: Reading NFC Tags

Inside the ViewController class, add a method to initiate NFC reading. This method will present an NFC reading session when called:

func startNFCReading() {
    let session = NFCReaderSession(delegate: self, queue: nil, invalidateAfterFirstRead: false)
    session.begin()
}

Step 5: Run the App on Your iPhone

Connect your iPhone to your Mac and select it as the target device in Xcode. Build and run the app on your iPhone to start the NFC reading session. Make sure to follow the on-screen instructions provided by the app.

Step 6: Handle Detected Tags

In the readerSession(_:didDetect:) method, you can access the detected tags and read their information. Use the following code to handle the detected tags:

for tag in tags {
    if case let .iso15693(tag) = tag {
        let uid = tag.identifier
        // Process the tag's unique identifier
    }
}

Step 7: Build Your RFID Reader App

Now that you have the basic functionality in place, you can further customize and extend your app to suit your specific needs. Add features like displaying tag information, integrating with backend services, or enabling authentication.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully turned your iPhone into an RFID reader. With the power of NFC technology, you can now explore a wide range of applications and possibilities. Start building innovative solutions for inventory management, access control, and more.