What is a vCard and how does it relate to NFC cards?
A vCard (Virtual Contact File) is a standardized file format for contact information that any smartphone contact app can open and save. NFC business card profiles typically offer a 'Save Contact' button that generates and downloads a vCard with your details.
How vCards work with NFC card profiles
When someone taps your NFC card and views your profile, they see a button labeled 'Save Contact,' 'Add to Contacts,' or similar. Tapping it downloads a .vcf file (the vCard format). Their phone recognizes the file type and asks whether to save it to their native contacts app. It works on iPhone, Android, and any other platform that supports the standard — which is all of them.
What a vCard can include
Name, title, company, phone numbers, email addresses, physical address, website URL, and a profile photo. The photo is embedded in the file, so it appears in the recipient's contacts immediately. Some platforms also include social media links, though not all contact apps display custom fields from vCards.
Is a vCard the same as an NFC card?
No. A vCard is a file format for contact info. An NFC card is a physical card with a chip. Many NFC card profiles let you download a vCard, but they're different things.
Does everyone who taps my NFC card automatically save my contact?
No. They see your profile page. Saving your contact requires them to tap the Save Contact button and confirm. It's opt-in.
What version of vCard do NFC cards use?
Most use vCard 3.0 for compatibility. Version 4.0 is newer but not supported by all contact apps. 3.0 is the safe default.