Comparative Technical Analysis of QR Code and NFC in Contactless Payments

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Abstract

This paper provides a technical comparison of QR-code and Near Field Communication (NFC) technologies for contactless payment systems. It examines how the two approaches differ in communication model, required hardware and infrastructure, transaction workflow, deployment flexibility, usability, and security considerations. QR-based payments rely primarily on camera-readable visual codes and can be deployed with relatively modest hardware requirements, while NFC uses short-range wireless communication and supports modes such as card emulation. The comparison is intended to clarify the practical strengths, limitations, and trade-offs of the two technologies for organizations and developers selecting a contactless-payment mechanism.