Mobile payments let you pay for things using your phone or smartwatch instead of a physical card or cash. NFC (near-field communication) is the technology that makes contactless payments work—you tap or hold your device near a reader, and the payment goes through in seconds. Most phones and many wearables now support this feature, and it works at millions of stores, restaurants, and transit systems worldwide.
The articles here cover how mobile payment systems actually work, which phones and devices support them, what security features protect your money, and how to set up payments on different platforms. You'll also find comparisons of the major payment services and what to know about using them at different types of merchants.