RFID is a technology that uses radio waves to identify objects electronically. It consists of tags that carry data, readers that can interrogate the tags, and software. There are three main types of tags: passive, semi-passive, and active. Common applications include access control, asset tracking, supply chain management, and toll collection. A survey found that respondents thought RFID could be used for inventory control, logistics, and library management. While RFID provides benefits like contactless reading and rewritable data, its costs remain higher than barcodes and standards are still being developed.