• You use QR codes every day. Payments, menus, tickets, and websites. A single small square connects your phone to the digital world in seconds. Few people consider where it came from and how much thought goes into those black and white patterns. This simple-looking code quietly altered how information flows around you.
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Invention:
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
• QR codes were first invented in Japan in 1994. It was created by Masahiro Hara and his team at Denso Wave, a Denso Corporation subsidiary. The original purpose was not marketing or payment, but rather the tracking of automobile parts during manufacturing.
• Traditional barcodes were too slow and stored insufficient data. Masahiro Hara wanted a code that could be scanned quickly and from any angle. Inspired by the patterns on a Go board, the team created a square code with black and white modules and corner markers. Denso Wave later made the technology freely available, allowing QR codes to spread worldwide without licensing restrictions.
How QR code works?
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
• QR codes consist of a square grid filled with black and white patterns. The corners have fiducial markers to help cameras detect the code. Data is extracted using Reed-Solomon error correction, which ensures that the code can be read even if it is partially damaged. QR codes support numeric, alphanumeric, byte, and kanji encoding, allowing them to store URLs, contact cards, text, and other information. Their speed and accuracy made them popular across multiple industries.
Why QR codes are better than Bar codes?
• Traditional one-dimensional barcodes only store a small amount of data using vertical lines. QR codes, as 2D barcodes, store data in both horizontal and vertical directions, resulting in significantly increased storage capacity. There are other 2D codes available, such as Data Matrix for microchips, PDF417 for ID cards, Aztec Codes for tight spaces, and MaxiCode for moving items. QR codes became popular because they are adaptable, quick to scan, and dependable in a variety of real-world scenarios.
QR codes in everyday life.
• QR codes are now everywhere. They appear on merchandise, posters, tickets, menus, and official documents. People scan them with their smartphones to quickly access websites, promotions, and contact information. They are used for product tracking, loyalty programs, warehouse management, and, in Japan, gravestones to share information about the deceased. The codes connect the physical and digital worlds, making interactions more efficient and convenient for both businesses and users.
There are more types of QR code & Barcode then you think.
Model 1 :
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
• Model 1 QR codes are an older version of the specification. It is visually similar to the well-known model 2 codes, but lacks alignment patterns. There are differences in the bottom right corner, as well as additional functional regions in the middle of the bottom and right edges.
Micro QR Code:
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
• Micro QR codes are intended for small spaces. It uses fewer modules than standard QR codes. This makes it ideal for small product labels and electronic components. Micro QR stores less data and provides limited error correction. It requires specialized scanners and is not widely supported by phone cameras. It is used in industries where space is limited and data requirements are minimal, such as circuit boards and precision manufacturing parts.
Rectangular Micro QR code:
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
• Rectangular Micro QR Code (or rMQR Code) is a two-dimensional (2D) matrix barcode invented and standardized by Denso Wave in 2022 as ISO/IEC 23941. The code is a rectangular variation of the QR code, with the same parameters and applications as the original QR codes.
iQR code:
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| Image Source Wikipedia |
• Denso Wave created an advanced version known as iQR code. It stores more data than standard QR codes while taking up less space. It can handle both square and rectangular shapes. This adaptability allows codes to fit into narrow or long spaces. iQR code also has improved error correction. It is used in logistics and industrial systems, where data density and reliability are more important than general public scanning.
SQRC - Secure QR code:
• SQRC stands for Secure Quick Response Code. It resembles a standard QR code but contains two types of data. One section is public and accessible to everyone. The remaining portion is private and requires special permission to access. Companies use SQRC for internal data, product authentication, and access control. It helps to protect sensitive data while keeping basic information visible to normal users.
Frame QR:
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| Image Source Wikipedia |
• A frame QR code has a blank area inside the square. Designers use this space to display logos, images, or text. Denso Wave designed it to make QR codes more appealing for marketing. If the frame is properly designed, it has no effect on scanning. Businesses use Frame QR in their advertising and branding materials. It improves visual appeal without sacrificing scanning performance or data accuracy.
HCC2D:
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| Image Source Wikipedia |
• Researchers have proposed a new High Capacity Colored 2-Dimensional (HCC2D) Code that is built on a QR code basis to preserve QR robustness to distortions and uses colors to increase data density (as of 2014, it is still in the prototyping phase). Introducing colors into QR codes necessitates addressing additional concerns. Specifically, only brightness information is considered when reading QR codes.
• HCC2D codes include an additional field, the Color Palette Pattern, to ensure adaptation to chromatic distortions that may occur in each scanned code. This is because color cells in a Color Palette Pattern should be distorted in the same way that color cells in the Encoding Region are. Replicated color palettes are used to train machine learning classifiers.
AQR - Accessible QR code
• Accessible QR (AQR) is a type of QR code that combines a standard QR code with a dot-dash pattern around one of the code's corners to provide product information to people who are visually impaired.
tQR:
• tQR (also known as tQR code) is a QR code designed specifically for rail transportation to distinguish between the various opening and closing positions of platform screen doors, which differ depending on rolling stock.[101] The initial "t" represents "toughness" and "train".
Data Matrix Code:
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| Image Source Wikipedia |
• Data Matrix is another type of two-dimensional code that is frequently compared to QR codes. It's smaller and more compact. Data matrix codes are used in microchips, medical devices, and industrial components. They store less data than QR codes but are still readable even when printed very small. Industries that require precise tracking of small items prefer Data Matrix to QR codes.
PDF417 :
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| Image Source Wikipedia |
• PDF417 is a stacked linear barcode that can hold large amounts of data. It is widely used on identification cards, boarding passes, and official documents. PDF417 codes allow you to securely store personal information without requiring internet access. Airports and governments use PDF417 because it supports structured data and provides greater security for identity verification.
AZTEC :
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| Image Source Wikipedia |
• Aztec codes are easily identified by the bullseye pattern in the center. They don't require a white border, making them ideal for small spaces. Many countries use Aztec codes for train tickets and transportation systems. They scan quickly, even when printed small or displayed on mobile screens, making them ideal for travel and ticketing systems.
Maxicode:
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| Image Source Wikipedia |
• UPS developed MaxiCode specifically for package tracking. It is intended to be scanned while packages are traveling at high speeds. MaxiCode prioritizes fast identification and routing information over large amounts of text data. It is designed specifically for logistics and warehouse automation, where speed and accuracy are critical.
3D
• 3D barcodes add a dimension beyond width and height. This additional dimension can take the form of color, texture, holographic layers, or time-based changes. These codes are primarily used to ensure security and prevent counterfeiting. One common example is event tickets that change slightly over time, preventing screenshots or duplication. The goal of 3D barcodes is protection, not convenience.
4D
• 4D barcodes are still experimental. They include time as a changing element, which means that the code is constantly evolving. These codes may employ infrared signals, depth data, or motion patterns. Researchers are investigating their applications in high-security environments and augmented reality systems. While promising, 4D barcodes are not yet used in everyday applications.
•QR codes originated as a factory tool. Today, they reside in your pocket and influence your daily life. They work quietly and quickly on everything from cars to coffee shops, posters to payments. QR codes will evolve in tandem with technological advances. The square may appear small, but its impact is significant, practical, and deeply ingrained in how you interact with information every day.
If this blog helped you understand QR codes in a clearer way, share your thoughts in the comments.
Tell me which part surprised you the most or where you see QR codes used in your daily life.
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