Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology enables wireless discovery and tracking of objects using high-frequency radio waves. At its core, RFID consists of two components: a tag and a receiver. The tag is attached to the object that requires identification or tracking. The receiver, depending on its type, tracks and provides information about these RFID tags within a given vicinity.
Unlike barcodes, which are line-of-sight technology, RFID solves two key problems. First, the RFID reader does not need to be in the line of sight; it can work wirelessly within the stipulated range. Second, some RFID tags have writable memory, allowing them to store additional information such as product expiry dates. Additionally, if someone tries to pilfer a product with an RFID tag attached, the cashier can detect it.
Overall, RFID technology improves upon barcodes and is becoming more commonplace due to its wireless capabilities and additional features.
