NET MAUI and NFC: Reading and Writing Tags
🚀 Introduction
Near Field Communication (NFC) enables short-range wireless communication between devices and tags. With .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI), you can build cross-platform applications that read and write NFC tags on both iOS and Android.
This guide covers the essentials, including setup, permissions, platform-specific implementations, and code examples.
📊 Platform Comparison: iOS vs. Android
| Feature | Android | iOS |
|---|---|---|
| NFC Support | Broad support (NFC-A, NFC-B, NFC-F, NFC-V, MiFare, etc.) | Limited to NDEF (NFC Data Exchange Format) tags only |
| Background Reading | Supported (with intent filters) | Only foreground reading (app must be open) |
| Writing Support | Read/Write supported | Read/Write supported (for NDEF) |
| Permissions | NFC permission and android.hardware.nfc feature required | NFC entitlement and NFCReaderUsageDescription in Info.plistist |
| APIs | Android.Nfc namespace, NfcAdapter | CoreNFC framework (NFCNDEFReaderSession) |
🛠️ Step 1: Project Setup
1.1 Create a .NET MAUI Project
1.2 Install NFC NuGet Package
Install the CommunityToolkit.Maui (includes NFC capabilities) or a dedicated NFC plugin:
1.3 Configure Permissions
Android:
Add these permissions to Platforms/Android/AndroidManifest.xml:
iOS:
Add the following to Platforms/iOS/Info.plist:
📖 Step 2: Reading NFC Tags
2.1 Create a Shared Interface
2.2 Android Implementation
2.3 iOS Implementation
2.4 Register Services in MauiProgram.cs
✍️ Step 3: Writing NFC Tags
3.1 Android Write Implementation
3.2 iOS Write Implementation
🔧 Step 4: UI for Reading/Writing
4.1 XAML Layout
4.2 Code-Behind Logic
⚠️ Step 5: Handling Platform-Specific Quirks
Android:
- Enable NFC in device settings.
- Handle
OnNewIntentto capture tag events.
iOS:
- App must be in foreground.
- Only supports NDEF format.
- Requires physical iOS device (no simulator support).
🔗 References
- Android NFC Documentation
- iOS CoreNFC Documentation
- .NET MAUI Community Toolkit NFC
- NDEF Specification
- NuGet - Shaunebu.MAUI.NFC 1.0.4
🎯 Conclusion
NET MAUI provides a robust framework for building cross-platform NFC applications. While Android offers more flexibility with various tag types and background reading, iOS remains restrictive with NDEF-only support and foreground reading.
By using platform-specific implementations and a shared interface, you can create seamless NFC experiences for both ecosystems.