API Reference | Example

Browser & OS compatibility

SerialPort (Node.js)

Node SerialPort is a JavaScript library for connecting to serial ports that works in NodeJS and Electron.

Web Bluetooth API

A subset of the Web Bluetooth API is available in ChromeOS, Chrome for Android 6.0, Mac (Chrome 56) and Windows 10 (Chrome 70). See MDN's Browser compatibility table for more information.

For Linux and earlier versions of Windows, enable the #experimental-web-platform-features flag in about://flags.

Web Serial API

The Web Serial API is available on all desktop platforms (ChromeOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows) in Chrome 89. See MDN's Browser compatibility table for more information.

Web Serial API Polyfill

On Android, support for USB-based serial ports is possible using the WebUSB API and the Serial API polyfill. This polyfill is limited to hardware and platforms where the device is accessible via the WebUSB API because it has not been claimed by a built-in device driver.

Prepare PN532 hardware

PN532.js support Web Serial and Web Bluetooth. You can connect PN532 to PC via an USB2TTL module (e.g. CH340, PL2303) or via BLE UART module (e.g. JDY-33, HC-08).

See Mtools Tec's How to make PN532 work on Bluetooth and How To Test PN532 Working With Bluetooth Module? for more information.

Installing

Package manager

Using npm:

$ npm install pn532.js

# Also install SerialPort if you want to run in node.js
$ npm install serialport

Using yarn:

$ yarn add pn532.js

# Also install SerialPort if you want to run in node.js
$ yarn add serialport

Once the package is installed, you can import the library using import or require:

// import
import { Pn532, Packet, utils: Pn532utils } from 'pn532.js'
import Crypto1 from 'pn532.js/Crypto1.js'
import LoggerRxTx from 'pn532.js/plugin/LoggerRxTx.js'
import Pn532Hf14a from 'pn532.js/plugin/Hf14a.js'
import Pn532SerialPortAdapter from 'pn532.js/plugin/SerialPortAdapter.js'
import Pn532WebbleAdapter from 'pn532.js/plugin/WebbleAdapter.js'
import Pn532WebserialAdapter from 'pn532.js/plugin/WebserialAdapter.js'

// require
const { Pn532, Packet, utils: Pn532utils } = require('pn532.js')
const Crypto1 = require('pn532.js/Crypto1.js')
const LoggerRxTx = require('pn532.js/plugin/LoggerRxTx.js')
const Pn532Hf14a = require('pn532.js/plugin/Hf14a.js')
const Pn532SerialPortAdapter = require('pn532.js/plugin/SerialPortAdapter.js')
const Pn532WebbleAdapter = require('pn532.js/plugin/WebbleAdapter.js')
const Pn532WebserialAdapter = require('pn532.js/plugin/WebserialAdapter.js')

CDN

Using jsDelivr CDN:

<!-- PN532.js require lodash@4, place before any pn532 libraries -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/lodash@4/lodash.min.js"></script>

<!-- PN532.js Core -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/pn532.js@0/dist/pn532.min.js"></script>
<!-- PN532.js Crypto1 -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/pn532.js@0/dist/Crypto1.min.js"></script>
<!-- PN532.js Hf14a plugin -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/pn532.js@0/dist/plugin/Hf14a.min.js"></script>
<!-- PN532.js LoggerRxTx plugin -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/pn532.js@0/dist/plugin/LoggerRxTx.min.js"></script>
<!-- PN532.js WebbleAdapter plugin -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/pn532.js@0/dist/plugin/WebbleAdapter.min.js"></script>
<!-- PN532.js WebserialAdapter plugin -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/pn532.js@0/dist/plugin/WebserialAdapter.min.js"></script>

After the script tag, you can use the PN532.js as following:

// setup
const {
  _, // lodash: https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/lodash@4/lodash.min.js
  Pn532: { Pn532, Packet, utils: Pn532utils },
  Crypto1,
  Pn532Hf14a,
  Pn532LoggerRxTx,
  Pn532WebbleAdapter,
  Pn532WebserialAdapter,
} = window

Getting Started

use Adapter

A pn532 instance must register exactly one adapter plugin:

// setup
const {
  _, // lodash: https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/lodash@4/lodash.min.js
  Pn532: { Pn532, Packet, utils: Pn532utils },
  Crypto1,
  Pn532Hf14a,
  Pn532WebbleAdapter,
  Pn532WebserialAdapter,
} = window

// Pn532WebserialAdapter
const pn532usb = new Pn532()
pn532usb.use(new Pn532WebserialAdapter()) // A pn532 instance must register exactly one adapter plugin
console.log(JSON.stringify(await pn532usb.getFirmwareVersion())) // {"firmware":"1.6","ic":"PN532","iso14443a":true,"iso14443b":true,"iso18092":true}

// Pn532WebbleAdapter
const pn532ble = new Pn532()
pn532ble.use(new Pn532WebbleAdapter()) // A pn532 instance must register exactly one adapter plugin
console.log(JSON.stringify(await pn532ble.getFirmwareVersion())) // {"firmware":"1.6","ic":"PN532","iso14443a":true,"iso14443b":true,"iso18092":true}

// Pn532SerialPortAdapter
import Pn532SerialPortAdapter from 'pn532.js/plugin/SerialPortAdapter.js'
// Run serialport-list to list port, see https://serialport.io/docs/bin-list
const pn532node = new Pn532()
pn532node.use(new Pn532SerialPortAdapter(), { path: '/dev/tty.usbserial-120' })
console.log(JSON.stringify(await pn532node.getFirmwareVersion())) // {"firmware":"1.6","ic":"PN532","iso14443a":true,"iso14443b":true,"iso18092":true}

Read UID, ATQA, SAK from Mifare Classic 1k

// setup
const {
  _, // lodash: https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/lodash@4/lodash.min.js
  Pn532: { Pn532, Packet, utils: Pn532utils },
  Pn532Hf14a,
  Pn532WebserialAdapter,
} = window

const pn532 = new Pn532()
pn532.use(new Pn532WebserialAdapter()) // A pn532 instance must register exactly one adapter plugin
pn532.use(new Pn532Hf14a())
console.log(JSON.stringify(await pn532.$hf14a.mfSelectCard())) // {"pack":"Packet(9): 010004080407460D6D","atqa":"Packet(2): 0004","sak":"Packet(1): 08","uid":"Packet(4): 07460D6D","rats":"Packet(0)"}

Manipulate with MIFARE Classic 1k and MIFARE Classic DirectWrite aka Gen2 aka CUID

If you are not familiar with Chinese Magic Card, see Proxmark3's Magic Cards Notes for more information.

// setup
const {
  _, // lodash: https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/lodash@4/lodash.min.js
  Pn532: { Pn532, Packet, utils: Pn532utils },
  Pn532Hf14a,
  Pn532WebserialAdapter,
} = window

const pn532 = new Pn532()
pn532.use(new Pn532WebserialAdapter()) // A pn532 instance must register exactly one adapter plugin
pn532.use(new Pn532Hf14a())

const key = Packet.fromHex('FFFFFFFFFFFF')

// read a block
let resp1 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfReadBlock({ block: 0, isKb: 1, key })
console.log(resp1.hex) // 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF
console.log(resp1.inspect) // Packet(16): 01 02 03 04 04 08 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 BE AF

// try to read a block with key B then Key A
let resp2 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfReadBlockKeyBA({ block: 0, ka: key, kb: key })
console.log(resp2.hex) // 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF
console.log(resp2.inspect) // Packet(16): 01 02 03 04 04 08 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 BE AF

// read a sector
let resp3 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfReadSector({ sector: 0, isKb: 1, key })
console.log(JSON.stringify(resp3)) // {"data":"Packet(64): 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF... (truncated)","success":[1,1,1,1]}
console.log(resp3.data.hex) // 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF... (truncated)
console.log(resp3.data.inspect) // Packet(64): 01 02 03 04 04 08 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 BE AF... (truncated)

// try to read a sector with key B then Key A
let resp4 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfReadSectorKeyBA({ sector: 0, ka: key, kb: key })
console.log(JSON.stringify(resp4)) // {"data":"Packet(64): 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF... (truncated)","success":{"key":[1,1],"read":[1,1,1,1]}}
console.log(resp4.data.hex) // 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF... (truncated)
console.log(resp4.data.inspect) // Packet(64): 01 02 03 04 04 08 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 BE AF... (truncated)

// try to read a Mifare Classic 1k by keys
let resp5 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfReadCardByKeys({ sectorMax: 16, keys: [key] })
console.log(JSON.stringify(resp5)) // {"data":"Packet(1024): 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF... (truncated)","success":{"key":["Packet(6): FFFFFFFFFFFF",... (truncated)],"read":[1,1,1,1,... (truncated)]}}
console.log(resp5.data.hex) // 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF... (truncated)
console.log(resp5.data.inspect) // Packet(1024): 01 02 03 04 04 08 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 BE AF... (truncated)

// write a block
const dataBlock = Packet.fromHex('000102030405060708090A0B0C0D0E0F')
await pn532.$hf14a.mfWriteBlock({ block: 1, isKb: 1, key, data: dataBlock })

// try to write a block with key B then Key A
await pn532.$hf14a.mfWriteBlockKeyBA({ block: 1, ka: key, kb: key, data: dataBlock })

// write a sector
const dataSector = new Packet(64)
dataSector.set(Packet.fromHex('FFFFFFFFFFFF08778F00FFFFFFFFFFFF'), 48)
let resp6 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfWriteSector({ sector: 1, isKb: 1, key, data: dataSector })
console.log(JSON.stringify(resp6)) // {"success":[1,1,1,1]}

// try to write a sector with key B then Key A
let resp7 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfWriteSectorKeyBA({ sector: 1, ka: key, kb: key, data: dataSector })
console.log(JSON.stringify(resp7)) // {"success":[1,1,1,1]}

// try to write a Mifare Classic 1k by keys
const dataCard = new Packet(1024)
dataCard.set(Packet.fromHex('0102030404080400000000000000BEAF'))
for (let i = 0; i < 16; i++) dataCard.set(Packet.fromHex('FFFFFFFFFFFF08778F00FFFFFFFFFFFF'), i * 64 + 48)
let resp8 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfWriteCardByKeys({ sectorMax: 16, keys: [key], data: dataCard })
console.log(JSON.stringify(resp8)) // {"success":[1,1,1,1,... (truncated)]}

Manipulate with MIFARE Classic Gen1A aka UID

If you are not familiar with Chinese Magic Card, see Proxmark3's Magic Cards Notes for more information.

// setup
const {
  _, // lodash: https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/lodash@4/lodash.min.js
  Pn532: { Pn532, Packet, utils: Pn532utils },
  Pn532Hf14a,
  Pn532WebserialAdapter,
} = window

const pn532 = new Pn532()
pn532.use(new Pn532WebserialAdapter()) // A pn532 instance must register exactly one adapter plugin
pn532.use(new Pn532Hf14a())

// read a block
let resp1 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfReadBlockGen1a({ block: 0 })
console.log(resp1.hex) // 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF
console.log(resp1.inspect) // Packet(16): 01 02 03 04 04 08 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 BE AF

// read a sector
let resp2 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfReadSectorGen1a({ sector: 0 })
console.log(JSON.stringify(resp2)) // {"data":"Packet(64): 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF... (truncated)","success":[1,1,1,1]}
console.log(resp2.data.hex) // 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF... (truncated)
console.log(resp2.data.inspect) // Packet(64): 01 02 03 04 04 08 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 BE AF... (truncated)

// read a Mifare Classic 1k Gen1A
let resp3 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfReadCardGen1a({ sectorMax: 16 })
console.log(JSON.stringify(resp3)) // {"data":"Packet(1024): 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF... (truncated)","success":[1,1,1,1,... (truncated)]}
console.log(resp3.data.hex) // 0102030404080400000000000000BEAF... (truncated)
console.log(resp3.data.inspect) // Packet(1024): 01 02 03 04 04 08 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 BE AF... (truncated)

// write a block
const dataBlock = Packet.fromHex('000102030405060708090A0B0C0D0E0F')
await pn532.$hf14a.mfWriteBlockGen1a({ block: 1, data: dataBlock })

// write a sector
const dataSector = new Packet(64)
dataSector.set(Packet.fromHex('FFFFFFFFFFFF08778F00FFFFFFFFFFFF'), 48)
let resp4 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfWriteSectorGen1a({ sector: 1, data: dataSector })
console.log(JSON.stringify(resp4)) // {"success":[1,1,1,1]}

// write a Mifare Classic 1k Gen1A
const dataCard = new Packet(1024)
dataCard.set(Packet.fromHex('0102030404080400000000000000BEAF'))
for (let i = 0; i < 16; i++) dataCard.set(Packet.fromHex('FFFFFFFFFFFF08778F00FFFFFFFFFFFF'), i * 64 + 48)
let resp5 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfWriteCardGen1a({ sectorMax: 16, data: dataCard })
console.log(JSON.stringify(resp5)) // {"success":[1,1,1,1,... (truncated)]}

// set a random UID
await pn532.$hf14a.mfSetUidGen1a({ uid: new Packet(_.times(4, () => _.random(0, 0xFF))) })

// wipe a Mifare Classic 1k Gen1A
let resp6 = await pn532.$hf14a.mfWipeGen1a({ sectorMax: 16, uid: Packet.fromHex('01020304') })
console.log(JSON.stringify(resp6)) // {"success":[1,1,1,1,... (truncated)]}

Related links

• PN532 User Manual v1.6 | NXP
• PN532/C1 Product data sheet v3.6 | NXP
• Mifare Classic 1k ev1 v3.2 | NXP
• Mifare Classic 4k ev1 v3.2 | NXP
• Mifare Identifcation Procedure - AN10833 | NXP
• MIFARE ISO/IEC 14443 PICC selection - AN10834 | NXP
• MIFARE product and handling of UIDs - AN10927 | NXP
• A 2018 practical guide to hacking NFC/RFID
• Magic Cards Notes
• elechouse/PN532: NFC library for Arduino
• nfc-tools/libnfc
• RfidResearchGroup/RFIDtools: RFID Tools android app