# Install libnfc with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Low level NFC SDK and Programmers API. Version 1.8.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:libnfc ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install libnfc ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install libnfc ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: comms/libnfc/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add libnfc ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libnfc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install libnfc-bin ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: libnfc-bin from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install libnfc ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libnfc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#libnfc ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libnfc/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S libnfc ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: libnfc from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install libnfc-devel ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libnfc-devel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:libnfc - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.8.0 - **Source summary:** Low level NFC SDK and Programmers API - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-3.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - nfc-anticol (cli) - nfc-barcode (cli) - nfc-dep-initiator (cli) - nfc-dep-target (cli) - nfc-emulate-forum-tag2 (cli) - nfc-emulate-forum-tag4 (cli) - nfc-emulate-tag (cli) - nfc-emulate-uid (cli) - nfc-jewel (cli) - nfc-list (cli) - nfc-mfclassic (cli) - nfc-mfsetuid (cli) - nfc-mfultralight (cli) - nfc-poll (cli) - nfc-read-forum-tag3 (cli) - nfc-relay (cli) - nfc-relay-picc (cli) - nfc-scan-device (cli) - pn53x-diagnose (cli) - pn53x-sam (cli) - pn53x-tamashell (cli) - nfc-anticol (alias) - nfc-barcode (alias) - nfc-dep-initiator (alias) - nfc-dep-target (alias) - nfc-emulate-forum-tag2 (alias) - nfc-emulate-forum-tag4 (alias) - nfc-emulate-tag (alias) - nfc-emulate-uid (alias) - nfc-jewel (alias) - nfc-list (alias) - nfc-mfclassic (alias) - nfc-mfsetuid (alias) - nfc-mfultralight (alias) - nfc-poll (alias) - nfc-read-forum-tag3 (alias) - nfc-relay (alias) - nfc-relay-picc (alias) - nfc-scan-device (alias) - pn53x-diagnose (alias) - pn53x-sam (alias) - pn53x-tamashell (alias) ## Dependencies - libusb-compat ## Build dependencies - pkgconf ## Uses from macOS - pcsc-lite ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.8.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/nfc-tools/libnfc - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage libnfc is the nfc-tools C library for user-space access to NFC devices. It targets low-level reader and tag work rather than a single application workflow, exposing reader, initiator, and target features through a portable API and companion command-line tools. ### Project history The README identifies libnfc as a Free/Libre Near Field Communication library and credits early historical contributors including Roel Verdult in 2009, Romuald Conty from 2009-2015, Romain Tartiere from 2010-2012, Philippe Teuwen from 2010-2013, and Ludovic Rousseau from 2012-2013. The project moved its official development center to GitHub after older web and forum sites disappeared. The nfc-tools project page describes broad operating-system support across GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, and POSIX-style builds. ### Adoption history libnfc became a familiar dependency for desktop and embedded NFC experimentation because it supports inexpensive PN53x-class hardware, PC/SC readers, MIFARE Classic, FeliCa, ISO/IEC 14443 A/B, Jewel/Topaz, and peer-to-peer data exchange modes. ### How it is used The package ships many small diagnostic and manipulation tools, including nfc-list, nfc-poll, nfc-scan-device, nfc-mfclassic, nfc-mfultralight, and pn53x utilities. Official configuration examples use /etc/nfc/libnfc.conf and per-device files under /etc/nfc/devices.d when built with sysconfdir=/etc. ### Why package nerds care Package maintainers care about libnfc because it is where hardware access, udev/devd rules, USB libraries, PC/SC integration, and optional drivers all meet. It is also a hub for the nfc-tools ecosystem, with nearby projects such as libfreefare, libllcp, libndef, mfcuk, mfoc, and pam_nfc. ### Timeline - 2009: README copyright notes identify Roel Verdult and Romuald Conty among the early libnfc contributors. - 2015: The nfc-tools project page identified GitHub as the code host and listed related nfc-tools projects. - 2020-05-21: libnfc 1.7.2 was released, with the changelog warning it was incompatible with 1.7.1. - 2020-05-22: libnfc 1.8.0 restored enum ordering compatibility and bumped the library version to 6.0.0. ### Related projects - Related nfc-tools projects include libfreefare, libllcp, libndef, mfcuk, mfoc, nfc-eventd, nfcutils, and pam_nfc. - Hardware and protocol dependencies named by the project include libusb, pcsc-lite, PN53x devices, PC/SC readers, MIFARE Classic, and FeliCa. ### Sources - - - ## Security Notes generalized runtime or code generation signal. - **Geiger risk:** yellow / medium - generalized runtime or code generation signal ## Configuration and credential file locations These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval. ## Configuration files - Unix: /etc/nfc/libnfc.conf, /etc/nfc/devices.d/*.conf ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** libnfc - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - libnfc-bin - 1.8.0-3.1+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libnfc-bin from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Near Field Communication (NFC) binaries | http://www.nfc-tools.org/ - Debian apt - libnfc-dev - 1.8.0-3.1+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libnfc-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Near Field Communication (NFC) library (development files) | http://www.nfc-tools.org/ - Debian apt - libnfc-examples - 1.8.0-3.1+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libnfc-examples from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Near Field Communication (NFC) examples | http://www.nfc-tools.org/ - Debian apt - libnfc-pn53x-examples - 1.8.0-3.1+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libnfc-pn53x-examples from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Near Field Communication (NFC) examples for PN53x chips only | http://www.nfc-tools.org/ - Debian apt - libnfc6 - 1.8.0-3.1+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libnfc6 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Near Field Communication (NFC) library | http://www.nfc-tools.org/ - Nix - libnfc: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libnfc/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - libnfc-bin - 1.8.0-3.1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libnfc-bin from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Near Field Communication (NFC) binaries | http://www.nfc-tools.org/ - Ubuntu apt - libnfc-dev - 1.8.0-3.1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libnfc-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Near Field Communication (NFC) library (development files) | http://www.nfc-tools.org/ - Ubuntu apt - libnfc-examples - 1.8.0-3.1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libnfc-examples from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Near Field Communication (NFC) examples | http://www.nfc-tools.org/ - Ubuntu apt - libnfc-pn53x-examples - 1.8.0-3.1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libnfc-pn53x-examples from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Near Field Communication (NFC) examples for PN53x chips only | http://www.nfc-tools.org/ - Ubuntu apt - libnfc6 - 1.8.0-3.1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libnfc6 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Near Field Communication (NFC) library | http://www.nfc-tools.org/ - apk - libnfc - 1.8.0-r2: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libnfc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Platform independent Near Field Communication (NFC) library | https://github.com/nfc-tools/libnfc - apk - libnfc-dev - 1.8.0-r2: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libnfc-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Platform independent Near Field Communication (NFC) library (development files) | https://github.com/nfc-tools/libnfc - apk - libnfc-doc - 1.8.0-r2: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libnfc-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Platform independent Near Field Communication (NFC) library (documentation) | https://github.com/nfc-tools/libnfc - apk - libnfc-tools - 1.8.0-r2: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libnfc-tools from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Platform independent Near Field Communication (NFC) library (tools) | https://github.com/nfc-tools/libnfc - dnf - libnfc - 1.8.0-13.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libnfc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | NFC SDK and Programmers API | http://www.libnfc.org/ ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [libusb-compat](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libusb-compat/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libfreefare](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libfreefare/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [mfcuk](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mfcuk/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [mfoc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mfoc/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [mfterm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mfterm/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [nfcutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nfcutils/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [adns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/adns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, networking. - [c-ares](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/c-ares/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, networking. - [curl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/curl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, networking. - [czmq](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/czmq/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, networking. - [freerdp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/freerdp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, networking. - [gupnp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gupnp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, networking. - [hesiod](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hesiod/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, networking. - [libdnet](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libdnet/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, level, low, networking. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/libnfc.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/libnfc.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph