feat: iOS NFC reading support for ISO 14443-3A NfcA tags

[gordins]

Plugin(s)

• [ ] Android Foreground Service
• [ ] Android Battery Optimization
• [ ] App Update
• [ ] Background Task
• [ ] Badge
• [ ] Bluetooth Low Energy
• [ ] Cloudinary
• [ ] Datetime Picker
• [ ] File Compressor
• [ ] File Opener
• [ ] File Picker
• [ ] Live Update
• [ ] Managed Configurations
• [X] NFC
• [ ] Photo Editor
• [ ] Printer
• [ ] Screen Orientation
• [ ] Zip

Current problem

The NFC reader on iOS does not scan ISO 14443-3A NfcA type tags. Those are accessible via iOS API but not exposed via the Nfc.startScanSession method.

Preferred solution

We should have an option for the startScanSession method to enrich the reading compatibility of NFC tags on iOS so that ISO 14443-3A NfcA can be supported.

Alternative options

An alternative option could be having this kind of tags scannable by default in the startScanSession, but given that this might need a older/different API, having it expose via an option might be the better alternative.

Additional context

Initial discord question

Before submitting

• [X] I have read and followed the feature request guidelines.
• [X] I have attached links to possibly related issues and discussions.

[robingenz]

Hey @gordins, thank you for creating this issue! I worked on a solution last week and just created a dev release:

npm i @capawesome-team/capacitor-nfc@6.3.0-dev.611787f.1730700274

This release adds a new compatbilityMode option to the startScanSession method:

const read = async () => {
  return new Promise((resolve) => {
    Nfc.addListener('nfcTagScanned', async (event) => {
      await Nfc.stopScanSession();
      resolve(event.nfcTag);
    });

    Nfc.startScanSession({
        compatbilityMode: true
    });
  });
};

Please give it a try and let me know if this resolves your issue.