RFID Based Attendance System Using NodeMCU with PHP Web App

Overview

The RFID based attendance system is developed using PHP, CSS, and Javascript. An RFID Based Attendance System Using NodeMCU is a modern attendance system. Hence, is a very interesting project. It can be useful in different places like schools, Colleges, industry and private organizations to register the attendance of students, teachers, employees, etc. to tabulate monthly/daily working hours automatically. When the person with the correct RFID card swipes his/her RFID tag, His/Her arrival time will be stored in system Log. Usually, when the same person swipes his/her RFID tag again, the system will save it as his/her leaving time. 

The RFID attendance system is developed with the IoT platform. We have used NodeMCU ESP8266 development board with MF-RC522 Module to send the card UID to the PHP Web app and store data into the website database. Basically, the admin plays an important role in the management of this system.

Also Read: IoT based RFID Attendance System Using ESP32, OLED Display, and RFID Module

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Features:

-Secured Login System
-Admin Panel
-User Entry Log
-User Management System
-Multiple Device Management System
-Filter the Log Data by Date, Time-In, Time-Out, and Department
-Export those filtered data to Excel

Functionality Performed by users

Now, talking about the features of the RFID based attendance system using NodeMCU.The home page displays the admin login page. Unless You login to the system, you won’t be able to browse other available options. Hence the system is secured. Basically, the design of the RFID attendance system project is pretty simple. Hence the user won’t find any difficulties while enrolling his/her attendance. The user needs to swipe his/her card or a keychain to maintain attendance that includes the entry time as well. The major functions provided to admin are mentioned below:

• Admin Login/Logout System 
• Forgot Password for admin
• Edit and Update admin profile

Manage Users

• View users
• Add New User
• Edit and update the existing users
• Remove Users

From the admin panel, the admin can enroll new users, update and remove users from the user management system. Further, the admin can view all the attendance records.

Manage Device

• Add new device
• Update existing device
• Delete device
• Update New token to the device
• Change the device mode (Enrollment mode: to register new users to the system, Attendance Mode: To record attendance of registered users)

Actually, from the devices section admin can add a new device, update the device, and remove the device. To add a new device you need to enter a device name and its department. Furthermore, you can also update the device token from the device UID Section.

View Users Log

From the user log menu, you can navigate to all the user’s logs data. You can view their arrival and Leaving time as well. Furthermore, It has more functions to filter your logs by user, date, arrival time, leaving time, and filter by different departments, etc. Hence, you can also export those data to excel. 

Hardware Components Required

S.N	Components Name	Description	Quantity
1	NodeMCU	ESP8266 12E Board	1	https://amzn.to/3mTuL95
2	RFID Module	RFID-RC522 Module	1	https://amzn.to/3pOPpb4
3	Jumper Wires	Male to Male Jumper Wires	4	https://amzn.to/2JWSR44
4	Breadboard	Solderless Breadboard MIni	1	https://amzn.to/3n33uRT

Software Required with Download Links

• Arduino IDE
• XAMPP server
• PHP Source Code
• RFID-RC522 Library
• NodeMcu ESP8266 Library and Board Manager

Technology Used in RFID attendance System Using NodeMCU

Here we are listing all the major required software components for this project to develop the user interface.

1. Embedded C: All the hardware interface coding has been done in embedded C Language.
2. PHP: All the Logics and web interface is written in PHP Language.
3. MYSQL: For database, MYSQL Database is used.
4. Apache 2: To run the web interface over the Apache 2 server.
5. Javascript and CSS: To Style web Interface with animation and validate the form.

RFID Based Attendance System Network Topology

This is the simple network topology designed to run this project over a Local Area Network. The Project Device and Computer server are connected to the same network through WiFi. 

Now before getting started with this project, let’s learn What is RFID? with its specifications and Features.

RFID RC522 Module

What is RFID RC522 Module?

At first, let’s learn a little bit about RFID. RFID is the short form of Radio Frequency Identification. RFID modules use electromagnetic fields for transferring data between the card and the reader. Different RFID tags are attached to objects like Keychain, cards, etc. and whenever we place that object in front of the RFID reader, the reader reads that tags. The next benefit of RFID is that it doesn’t require to be in a straight line to get detected. Unlike a barcode, in RFID there’s no such restriction. So, here are some features of RFID RC522.

Features:

– Module Name: MF522-ED
– Working current：13—26mA/ DC 3.3V
– Standby current：10-13mA/DC 3.3V
– Sleeping current：<80uA
– Peak current：<30mA
– Working frequency：13.56MHz
– Card reading distance ：0～60mm（mifare1 card）
– Protocol：SPI
– Data communication speed：Maximum 10Mbit/s
– Card types supported：mifare1 S50、mifare1 S70、 Mifare UltraLight、mifare Pro、 Mifare Desfire
– Dimension：40mm×60mm
– Working temperature：-20—80 degree
– Storage temperature：-40—85 degree
– Humidity：relevant humidity 5%—95%
– Max SPI speed: 10Mbit/s

Specifications & Pin Details

The simple specifications of RC522 module from left to right first pins are as follows:

Pin Name Details
1. 3.3V +3.3V Power Supply
2. RST Reset
3. GND Ground Pin
4. IRO Not Connected
5. MISO Serial Communication
6. MOSI Serial Communication
7. SCK TX/RX with ESP8266
8. SDA TX/RX with ESP8266

Interfacing RFID RC522 with NodeMcu ESP8266 Module

NodeMCU ESP8266/ESP12E RFID MFRC522 / RC522

How to run a server?

Actually, we can Deploy this PHP Web App on Hosting Server as well. But, you will need Public IP from Your Broadband connections to send data to the hosting server.

However, we are using the XAMPP server. It can be used both in Windows and Linux. Basically, Ubuntu users can use LAMP it’s better than XAMPP. But, I am using Windows so I am going to use the XAMPP server. So you can download the XAMPP server from this link.

Deploying our PHP Web App

• Start your Mysql and Apache from XAMPP Control Panel.

• Download the PHP web app and the Arduino IDE Program code.
• Extract the file.
• Copy the rfidattendance folder (Main Project folder).
• Paste the folder in C:>xampp/htdocs/ folder.

Now let’s connect the database to the RFID attendance system.

• Open the browser and go to the URL “http://localhost/phpmyadmin/”
• Then click on the database tab.

• Create a database name “rfidattendance” and then click on the import tab.

• Click on the browse file and then choose the “rfidattendance.sql” file located inside the rfidattendance folder.

• Click on Go.

After creating a database, open a browser and go to the URL “http://localhost/rfidattenddance/”. Now, the admin login panel will be displayed.

• Enter the admin email and password to enter the system.
• The default admin credentials is: email= admin@gmail.com, and password= 123.

Setting Up Arduino IDE for NodeMCU ESP8266

We need to add the esp8266 board to our Arduino IDE. Open up your IDE then go to “File -> Preferences” or simply hit “Ctrl + comma”.

Paste http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json in additional board manager URLs. 

Go to “Tools -> Board -> Boards Manager” search and install esp8266.

Selecting Port and Board

Go to Tools -> Port and select the COM Port of your NodeMCU. If you are not sure what port your NodeMcu is plugged in, go to Device Manager -> Ports (COM & LPT).

Now select NodeMcu 1.0 (ESP-12E Module) by clicking Tools -> Board. Scroll down until you find it.

Install the MFRC522 library to your Arduino Libraries folder – Download RFID Library

Program/Sketch Code

//*******************************libraries********************************
//RFID-----------------------------
#include <SPI.h>
#include <MFRC522.h>
//NodeMCU--------------------------
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <ESP8266HTTPClient.h>
//************************************************************************
#define SS_PIN  D2  //D2
#define RST_PIN D1  //D1
//************************************************************************
MFRC522 mfrc522(SS_PIN, RST_PIN); // Create MFRC522 instance.
//************************************************************************
/* Set these to your desired credentials. */
const char *ssid = "Alsan Air WiFi 4";
const char *password = "11122235122@kap1";
const char* device_token  = "2c4f3c61aa79d533";
//************************************************************************
String URL = "http://192.168.1.8/rfidattendance/getdata.php"; //computer IP or the server domain
String getData, Link;
String OldCardID = "";
unsigned long previousMillis = 0;
//************************************************************************
void setup() {
  delay(1000);
  Serial.begin(115200);
  SPI.begin();  // Init SPI bus
  mfrc522.PCD_Init(); // Init MFRC522 card
  //---------------------------------------------
  connectToWiFi();
}
//************************************************************************
void loop() {
  //check if there's a connection to Wi-Fi or not
  if(!WiFi.isConnected()){
    connectToWiFi();    //Retry to connect to Wi-Fi
  }
  //---------------------------------------------
  if (millis() - previousMillis >= 15000) {
    previousMillis = millis();
    OldCardID="";
  }
  delay(50);
  //---------------------------------------------
  //look for new card
  if ( ! mfrc522.PICC_IsNewCardPresent()) {
    return;//got to start of loop if there is no card present
  }
  // Select one of the cards
  if ( ! mfrc522.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) {
    return;//if read card serial(0) returns 1, the uid struct contians the ID of the read card.
  }
  String CardID ="";
  for (byte i = 0; i < mfrc522.uid.size; i++) {
    CardID += mfrc522.uid.uidByte[i];
  }
  //---------------------------------------------
  if( CardID == OldCardID ){
    return;
  }
  else{
    OldCardID = CardID;
  }
  //---------------------------------------------
//  Serial.println(CardID);
  SendCardID(CardID);
  delay(1000);
}
//************send the Card UID to the website*************
void SendCardID( String Card_uid ){
  Serial.println("Sending the Card ID");
  if(WiFi.isConnected()){
    HTTPClient http;    //Declare object of class HTTPClient
    //GET Data
    getData = "?card_uid=" + String(Card_uid) + "&device_token=" + String(device_token); // Add the Card ID to the GET array in order to send it
    //GET methode
    Link = URL + getData;
    http.begin(Link); //initiate HTTP request   //Specify content-type header
    
    int httpCode = http.GET();   //Send the request
    String payload = http.getString();    //Get the response payload

//    Serial.println(Link);   //Print HTTP return code
    Serial.println(httpCode);   //Print HTTP return code
    Serial.println(Card_uid);     //Print Card ID
    Serial.println(payload);    //Print request response payload

    if (httpCode == 200) {
      if (payload.substring(0, 5) == "login") {
        String user_name = payload.substring(5);
    //  Serial.println(user_name);

      }
      else if (payload.substring(0, 6) == "logout") {
        String user_name = payload.substring(6);
    //  Serial.println(user_name);
        
      }
      else if (payload == "succesful") {

      }
      else if (payload == "available") {

      }
      delay(100);
      http.end();  //Close connection
    }
  }
}
//********************connect to the WiFi******************
void connectToWiFi(){
    WiFi.mode(WIFI_OFF);        //Prevents reconnection issue (taking too long to connect)
    delay(1000);
    WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
    Serial.print("Connecting to ");
    Serial.println(ssid);
    WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
    
    while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
      delay(500);
      Serial.print(".");
    }
    Serial.println("");
    Serial.println("Connected");
  
    Serial.print("IP address: ");
    Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());  //IP address assigned to your ESP
    
    delay(1000);
}
//=======================================================================

Program Code Explanation

Include RFID Library

#include <SPI.h>
#include <MFRC522.h>

Include NodeMCU ESP8266 Library files.

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <ESP8266HTTPClient.h>

Define RFID MF-RC522 Module Pin.

#define SS_PIN  D2  //D2
#define RST_PIN D1  //D1

Create MFRC522 instance.

MFRC522 mfrc522(SS_PIN, RST_PIN);

Set your desired WiFi credentials.

const char *ssid = "Alsan Air WiFi 4";
const char *password = "11122235122@kap1";

Copy the Device token from devices section and paste it over here.

const char* device_token  = "2c4f3c61aa79d533";

Place your computer IP or the server domain.

String URL = "http://192.168.1.8/rfidattendance/getdata.php";

Init SPI bus and MFRC522 card

SPI.begin(); 
mfrc522.PCD_Init();

check if there’s a connection to Wi-Fi or not.

if(!WiFi.isConnected())
  

Retry to connect to Wi-Fi

 connectToWiFi();

look for new card

if ( ! mfrc522.PICC_IsNewCardPresent()) {

go to start of loop if there is no card present

if ( ! mfrc522.PICC_IsNewCardPresent()) {
    return;

Select one of the cards. If read card serial(0) returns 1, the UID struct contains the ID of the read card.

if ( ! mfrc522.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) {
    return;

Send the Card UID to the website.

void SendCardID( String Card_uid ){
  Serial.println("Sending the Card ID");
  if(WiFi.isConnected()){
    HTTPClient http;    //Declare object of class HTTPClient
    //GET Data
    getData = "?card_uid=" + String(Card_uid) + "&device_token=" + String(device_token); // Add the Card ID to the GET array in order to send it
    //GET methode
    Link = URL + getData;
    http.begin(Link); //initiate HTTP request   //Specify content-type header
    
    int httpCode = http.GET();   //Send the request
    String payload = http.getString();    //Get the response payload

//    Serial.println(Link);   //Print HTTP return code
    Serial.println(httpCode);   //Print HTTP return code
    Serial.println(Card_uid);     //Print Card ID
    Serial.println(payload);    //Print request response payload

    if (httpCode == 200) {
      if (payload.substring(0, 5) == "login") {
        String user_name = payload.substring(5);
    //  Serial.println(user_name);

      }
      else if (payload.substring(0, 6) == "logout") {
        String user_name = payload.substring(6);
    //  Serial.println(user_name);
        
      }
      else if (payload == "succesful") {

      }
      else if (payload == "available") {

      }
      delay(100);
      http.end();  //Close connection
    }
  }
}

connect to the WiFi

void connectToWiFi(){
    WiFi.mode(WIFI_OFF);        //Prevents reconnection issue (taking too long to connect)
    delay(1000);
    WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
    Serial.print("Connecting to ");
    Serial.println(ssid);
    WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
    
    while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
      delay(500);
      Serial.print(".");
    }
    Serial.println("");
    Serial.println("Connected");
  
    Serial.print("IP address: ");
    Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());  //IP address assigned to your ESP
    
    delay(1000);
}

Video Tutorial of RFID Based Attendance System

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Conclusion

Finally, we have completed the RFID based Attendance system using NodeMCU with a Website and Database. We hope you found this project useful! Drop a comment below if you have any doubts or queries. We’ll do our best to answer your questions