A two-dimensional barcode that can store information in a machine-readable optical label. The data contained within a QR Code can include text, a URL, or other data that can be accessed by scanning the code with a QR scanner, typically through a smartphone camera or a dedicated QR scanning device.
Developed in Japan in 1994 by Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, QR Codes were initially created to track vehicles during manufacturing. They offer a fast and efficient way to encode information in a compact space. Unlike traditional barcodes, which can only be read in one dimension (horizontally), QR Codes can be read in two dimensions (both horizontally and vertically), allowing them to hold much more information.
QR Codes have become popular due to their ease of use and versatility, especially as all smartphones integrated the technologies into their camera apps. They are used in a wide range of applications, including:
- Marketing and advertisements, to direct consumers to websites or promotional content.
- Event ticketing and boarding passes for transport.
- Business cards to quickly share contact information.
- Menus at restaurants.
- Product packaging to provide additional information or instructions.
- Payments and transactions, as part of mobile payment systems.
Users can point their smartphone camera at a QR Code to scan it, and the phone will automatically recognize the code, decode the information, and perform actions such as opening a website or saving contact details. This simplicity and efficiency have made QR Codes valuable in digital marketing, information sharing, and mobile commerce.
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