Quick Response (QR) Code

A Quick Response (QR) Code is a type of barcode which can be read by a digital device and which stores information. A quick response code, also called a QR code, is most frequently used to track information about products, and is often frequently used in marketing and advertising campaigns. QR codes consist of black squares arranged in a grid (matrix) on a white background. QR code readers can extract data from the patterns that are present in the QR code matrix. QR codes are considered an advancement from older, two-dimensional barcodes.

QR codes are able to contain more information than traditional barcodes, and primarily handle four modes of data: alphanumeric, numeric, binary, and Kanji. Despite the increased data capacity, QR codes have not been as popular with consumers as expected. Rather than being created by consumers to share information, they are most commonly associated with advertisers and marketing campaigns.

The amount of information that can be conveyed about a product or service was traditionally limited by the amount of space on the product’s packaging or the advertisement touting its benefits. If a consumer wanted more information about the product – availability, price, attributes – they would have to find a salesperson or request additional documentation.

Barcodes convey data using a combination of various widths of parallel lines and are commonly found on the back of product packages. The lines can be read by machines that have an optical scanner, and revolutionized the way that companies managed inventories and pricing. The barcode was first put to practical use in the 1960s by U.S. railroads to track equipment and containers. Traditional, two-dimensional barcodes came into common use in U.S. retail stores in 1974. Barcodes are now found on everything from employee ID badges and hospital bracelets to shipping containers.

QR codes were developed in the 1990s as a way to provide more information than a standard barcode. They were invented by Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, as a way to track automobiles throughout the manufacturing process. Unlike barcodes, which require a beam of light to bounce off of the parallel lines, QR codes can be digitally scanned by devices like mobile phones. They can be generated and read through specialized software.

There are a number of QR code types that may be used for different items. For example:

• Micro QR Code: A smaller version of a traditional QR code used when space is limited. Micro QR codes can vary in size.
• IQR Code: Can be created in squares or rectangles to be used in where space of shape is an issue. Can be in any one of 61 formats.
• SQRC: Features a restricted reading function to contain private information.
• Frame QR: Customizable frame that can contain graphics, illustrations or photos.