What is a QR code?

QR stands for quick response, and the code was invented in 1994 by Masahiro Hara at Denso Wave, a Japanese company, to track car parts in factories. Unlike a traditional barcode, which stores data in one direction, a QR code stores it both horizontally and vertically in a grid of black and white squares. The three large squares in the corners help scanners detect the code and its orientation from any angle. A QR code can hold up to about 7,000 digits or over 4,000 letters, and built-in error correction lets it work even if part of it is damaged. Their use exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic for touch-free menus and payments.