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A passive RFID tag is characterized by its reliance on an external power source, specifically provided by the radio waves emitted by an RFID reader. When the reader sends out a signal, it activates the passive tag, allowing it to respond and transmit data without an onboard power source. Since passive tags do not have their own power supply, they do not transmit data autonomously or continuously; instead, they only do so in reaction to being energized by the reader’s signal.

In contrast, tags that autonomously transmit data would be classified as active RFID tags, which do possess their own power source and are capable of broadcasting their information without needing to receive external power first. Therefore, the feature that indicates passive RFID tags do not send data independently is crucial in understanding how they operate in the context of RFID technology. This is why identifying that a passive tag "does not send out data and lacks a power source" accurately captures its defining characteristic.