RFID "Radio Frequency Identification Device" encompasses technologies that use electromagnetic (radio) waves, it captures the details of digital data that is stored in an encoded form on the smart labels or RFID tags and read by the RFID reader device. The RFID technology may look similar to the barcode scan technology, however, the RFID has many advantages over barcode scanning, one of the biggest advantages is the RFID working principle, which can track devices even when no line of sight exists. RFID technology has been approved since before the 1970s but has become much more prevalent only in recent years due to its usages in things like global supply chain management, Health care, and pet microchipping. For example, an object with an embedded RFID tag that is moving through a production line or a warehouse equipped with RFID readers can be scanned at different production stations, and thus its progress can be automatically tracked.

Types of RFID tags:

There are two types of RFID tags: Active and Passive. Active RFID tags have a transmitter and a power source, typically a battery, to broadcast a signal to a reader. Active tags have a longer read range than passive tags. Active tags can be read from a distance of 1,500 feet away, or more.

In contrast, passive RFID tags do not have a battery. Instead, they draw power from the reader. Also, semi-passive tags use a battery to power the chip but communicate by drawing power from the reader.

The technology has continued to improve over the years, and the cost of implementing and using an RFID system has continued to decrease, making RFID a cost-effective and efficient alternative to conventional optical scanning. Standard specifications have been developed for RFID technology, addressing security and privacy concerns.