NFC tags with Home Assistant

If you're not familiar with NFC (Near Field Communication), it's a technology that allows devices to exchange data by bringing them close together, typically within a few centimeters. And NFC tags are small chips that can be embedded in various materials and contain various information, such as URLs, text, or other data. These tags can be read by NFC-enabled devices, like smartphones or tablets.

Now, let's dive into some creative ways to use NFC tags with Home Assistant. First up: automated tasks and routines. Imagine setting up an NFC tag near your front door that, when scanned with your smartphone, turns off all the lights and locks the door. No more worrying about whether you remembered to turn off the lights or lock the door before you left the house. Talk about convenience and peace of mind!

But it doesn't stop there. You can also use NFC tags to control various smart devices in your home. For example, place an NFC tag near your bed; when scanned, it can turn off the lights and set the temperature to a comfortable level for sleeping. Or, put an NFC tag in your kitchen that, when scanned, turns on the coffee maker and starts playing your favorite morning playlist. It's like having a personal assistant at your fingertips!

In addition to automating tasks and controlling devices, NFC tags can also trigger events or actions within your home assistant system. Imagine setting up an NFC tag near your front door that, when scanned, sends a notification to your phone with the current weather forecast. Now you'll know exactly what to expect when you step outside.

And, let's not forget about tracking and monitoring various aspects of your home. Set up an NFC tag near your front door that logs the time and date of your arrival and departure. Or, put an NFC tag in your home office that logs the time you spend working. This can be useful for tracking productivity or creating a record of your activities.

It is pretty easy to set up NFC tags with Home Assistant.  I tried several NFC tags, from Amazon like these, and these for outside use.  Then from the Settings page of Home Assistant, select the NFC list item.

From the NFC list page, you can add a tag.  On this page, you can name it and then write the identifier to the tag.

 Once the identifier has been written, reading these tags can trigger any operation

As you can see, there are so many ways to use NFC tags with Home Assistant. They're a convenient and versatile tool for automating tasks, controlling devices, storing and sharing information, and tracking and monitoring your home. So why not give them a try and see how they can make your life a little easier and a lot more organized?