* Question

What is the title and scope of the ISO/IEC 14443 international standard?

* Answer

The ISO/IEC 14443 international standard is titled:

“Identification cards — Contactless integrated circuit cards — Proximity cards.”

Overview and Scope

The standard defines the communication protocols, electrical characteristics, and data exchange methods for proximity contactless smart cards (commonly known as RFID cards or NFC proximity cards).

It specifies how a proximity coupling device (PCD), such as a reader, communicates with a proximity integrated circuit card (PICC) over short distances (typically up to 10 cm).

Structure of ISO/IEC 14443

The standard is divided into four parts, each describing a specific layer of communication:

Part 1: Physical characteristics

Part 2: Radio frequency power and signal interface

Part 3: Initialization and anticollision

Part 4: Transmission protocol

Common Applications

Contactless payment cards (e.g., credit/debit cards using NFC).

Electronic passports (e-passports).

Access control systems and transport ticketing.

Summary

The ISO/IEC 14443 standard — “Identification cards — Contactless integrated circuit cards — Proximity cards” — defines how contactless smart cards communicate via radio frequency within short ranges, forming the foundation for technologies like NFC, RFID, and e-passports.