What is a QR Code?
A QR Code (short for Quick Response Code) is a type of two-dimensional barcode made up of black and white squares arranged in a grid. When scanned with a smartphone or camera, the pattern is instantly decoded into useful information—most commonly a link to a website, app, or file.
Although QR Codes may feel like a modern invention, they were created back in 1994 by Denso Wave, a Japanese auto manufacturing company. Their original purpose was to enable high-speed tracking of vehicle parts during assembly.
Over time, QR Codes moved beyond industrial use and became popular in everyday life because they:
Are easy to generate and use
Store more data than traditional barcodes
Can be scanned quickly and reliably
Today, QR Codes are everywhere—from restaurant menus to payment systems—and can be used for:
Viewing a menu or accessing event details
Getting directions in Google Maps
Reading product information
Logging into an account or verifying details
Connecting to Wi-Fi without typing a password
Sending and receiving payments
In essence, scanning a QR Code is like typing a web address into your browser—only faster and more convenient.
How do QR Codes work?
QR Codes work by encoding data into a grid of black and white squares. The unique pattern is translated into information when scanned. Unlike barcodes, which only store data horizontally, QR Codes can hold much more information because they encode it both vertically and horizontally.
Every QR Code follows a standard structure to ensure accurate scanning:
Quiet Zone → The blank white border around the QR Code that separates it from other content.
Finder Patterns → The three large squares at the corners (top-left, top-right, bottom-left) that help the scanner detect the code.
Alignment Pattern → A smaller square (usually bottom-right) that ensures the code can be read even if it’s tilted.
Timing Pattern → An L-shaped line of alternating black and white modules that helps identify each individual square.
Version Information → Metadata that specifies the QR Code’s version.
Data Cells → The actual modules that store the encoded information (like a URL, phone number, or text).
Scanning QR Codes
Most modern smartphones can scan QR Codes directly from the native camera app—no special app needed. Simply point your camera at the code, and a link or action will appear on your screen.
Pro Tip: If you want to save a QR Code for later use, just take a picture of it. You can scan it again from your photo gallery whenever needed.