Near field communication (NFC) allows short-range wireless data transfer between devices when brought close together. In 2004, Nokia, Philips, and Sony established the NFC Forum to develop standards. NFC operates at 13.5MHz and has a maximum transfer rate of 800kbps within a 10cm range. It can be used for contactless payments, data sharing, and automated tasks. Common applications include mobile boarding passes, tickets, and keyless entry. Security risks include eavesdropping, data modification, and man-in-the-middle attacks due to the short operating distance.