When we say “EAS tag,” we mean a small device made of plastic that’s attached to the merchandise being protected. When we say “EAS label,” we mean a paper sticker or a very thin strip of plastic with an EAS circuit hidden inside that’s affixed to merchandise like any label.

EAS tags come in different form factors. Some of the most common ones are shown in the picture on the left. Whether a particular tag is AM or RF is sometimes impossible to tell just by looking at it – they often look the same.

Feature-wise, there are several variants among tags. Some are simple, and only trigger the store alarm when passing between the EAS antennas at the door. Some are self-alarming, meaning that they can tell if someone is tampering with them or trying to remove them improperly. In that case, they sound their own alarm, powered by an internal battery.

These self-alarming tags are usually used on higher-priced merchandise or on items especially susceptible to theft.