RFID Tracking Glossary

A handheld reader is a mobile RFID reader for flexible data capture directly at the point of use. It is used to read transponders manually without requiring a fixed read point. This makes it well suited for stocktaking, goods receipt, order picking and checking individual items in production and logistics. In a compact format, it can also be integrated into mobile workflows as a Bluetooth scanner . The mobile design supports fast and location-independent identification of goods, containers and operating equipment during ongoing processes.

Hardware is everything in an RFID system that can be physically seen and touched as a device or component. It includes the technical parts used to label objects, detect them and read out information. Unlike software, hardware is the visible and installed part of a system. In the RFID context, this often includes the RFID reader, which captures data from labelled objects. The hardware required depends on where the system is used and what task it is intended to perform. Suitable hardware provides the basis for reliable automatic identification in production and logistics.

In the RFID environment, high frequency refers to a frequency range used for contactless data transmission between a transponder and an RFID reader. This range is mainly used when objects need to be identified selectively over short distances. Compared with ultra-high frequency, the read range is usually shorter, but high frequency operates reliably in many applications under controlled conditions. How well detection works depends, among other things, on the antenna, the tag, the installation situation and material influences. High frequency is particularly suitable for identification processes at workstations, on containers or on individual workpieces.