Unlocking the Power of NFC in React Native

Prerequisites

Before diving in, ensure you have:

• A working knowledge of React Native
• An NFC-enabled Android device (physical device required, as emulators cannot simulate NFC)
• A credit card with NFC functionality for testing

Understanding NFC Tags

NFC tags use radio waves to establish communication between devices, allowing them to share information. These tags have no power source but emit radio waves when brought near an NFC-enabled device, enabling communication. Real-world applications include toll payments, credit card transactions, and more.

Creating a React Native Application

To get started, create a new React Native application using the following command:

npx react-native init <project-name>

Replace <project-name> with your desired app name.

Installing Required Packages

Install the react-native-nfc-card-reader package using the following command:

npm install react-native-nfc-card-reader

Configuring AndroidManifest.xml

Add the following activity to your AndroidManifest.xml file:

<activity
  android:name="com.reactnative.nfc.cardreader.NfcCardReaderActivity"
  android:exported="true" />

Designing the Layout

Create a basic layout in your App.js file:

import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { View, Text, TextInput, Button } from 'react-native';

const App = () => {
  const [cardNumber, setCardNumber] = useState('');
  const [expiryDate, setExpiryDate] = useState('');
  const [cvv, setCvv] = useState('');

  const scanCard = () => {
    // Call the NFC reader function here
  };

  return (
    <View>
      <Text>Card Number:</Text>
      <TextInput value={cardNumber} />
      <Text>Expiry Date:</Text>
      <TextInput value={expiryDate} />
      <Text>CVV:</Text>
      <TextInput value={cvv} />
      <Button title="Scan Card" onPress={scanCard} />
    </View>
  );
};

export default App;

Implementing NFC Reader Functionality

Import the react-native-nfc-card-reader package and call the NFC reader function in your scanCard function:

import NfcCardReader from 'react-native-nfc-card-reader';

const scanCard = () => {
  NfcCardReader.readCardDetails((cardDetails) => {
    setCardNumber(cardDetails.cardNumber);
    setExpiryDate(cardDetails.expiryDate);
    setCvv(cardDetails.cvv);
  });
};

Testing Your App

Run your app on your physical Android device, and when you bring an NFC-enabled credit card near, you should see the card details automatically entered into the fields.