What are QR Codes?

QR Codes:-

QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response Code) is the trademark for a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional bar code) first designed for the automotive industry in Japan. Bar codes are optical machine-readable labels attached to items that record information related to the item. Initially patented, its patent holder has chosen not to exercise those rights.

What does a QR Code Look Like??

There are actually wide range of representations for QR Codes right starting from  a simple 2D black and white square tile to creative and colorful QR Codes.

Here are some Examples of them:-

A simple QR Code:-

 QR Code having a logo:-

And lot more.........

History of QR Codes:-

The QR code was invented in Japan by the Toyota subsidiary Denso Wave in 1994 to track vehicles during manufacture. It was designed to allow high-speed component scanning. It has since become one of the most popular types of two-dimensional barcodes.

Unlike the older one-dimensional barcode that was designed to be mechanically scanned by a narrow beam of light, the QR code is detected as a 2-dimensional digital image by a semiconductor image sensor and is then digitally analyzed by a programmed processor. The processor locates the three distinctive squares at the corners of the image, and uses a smaller square near the fourth corner to normalize the image for size, orientation, and angle of viewing. The small dots are then converted to binary numbers and their validity checked with an error-correcting code.

Confused? Watch a video to have an even more clear idea:-

QR Codes Everywhere:-

Now that you are clear about what QR Codes are you can check out another page to find out its applications.How can you use them in your day to day life and make sharing things easier.