You might have seen these QR codes from time to time and might have even used them. But do you know what exactly they are? They were first invented by a Japanese company called Denso Wave, a Toyota subsidiary. QR code stands for “Quick Response” code, a type of barcode that can be scanned by a digital device (smartphones and scanners).
In simple terms, QR codes store information as a series of pixels in a square-shaped grid. It does so by encoding kanji/kana, numbers, bytes, and alphanumeric characters altogether. They can store website URLs, phone numbers, and even up to 7089 or 4296 characters.
What else can it do?
Nowadays, all smartphones come with built-in QR code scanners, so it has become quite common to use them for day-to-day things. Especially in the covid era where usage of this technology has been more widespread than ever before. People can also use them for:
- Authenticate online accounts
- Sharing Online Payment Ids
- Verify login details
- Link to an app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
- Share Wi-Fi password
- Store encryption details such as SSID, password, and encryption type.
- Send and receive payment information.
- And much more
QR code technology has been developing over the years and has even added traceability, brand protection, and anti-forgery measures. Its durability is also to be kept in mind, as even if 30% of the code is damaged, scanners can still read it.
How to make a QR Code?
1. Go to QR Code Generator.
2. Select the content you want to link to (see all the options in the image below).
3. Select the frame you want and download the image.
Note: You can also create a dynamic QR code that will allow you to update its content, change/add links, and fix typos, even after print. You can also track the number of scans, including where and when.
If you like this simple explainer, check out our Short Bytes section. We take complex tech topics and break them into short, easy-to-understand articles.
