https://www.cnet.com/news/iphone-xs-and-xr-can-automatically-talk-to-nfc-devices-no-app-required/

Here's one new feature Apple didn't share at its product event on Wednesday: the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR will allow users to scan NFC tags in the background, meaning you won't need to launch an app to pair it with other devices or initiate data transfers between devices.

After finding and scanning an NFC tag, a notification will pop up on your phone's screen. Tapping that notification launches the app associated with the link. Asking users to explicitly select the notification prevents any unintentional actions, 9to5Mac pointed out.