1) Origins: Denso Wave (1994)
In 1994, engineers at Denso Wave created the Quick Response (QR) code to streamline component tracking in automotive manufacturing. Compared to 1D barcodes, QR offered higher capacity, omnidirectional readability and robustness thanks to error correction.
2) Anatomy: modules, versions and ECC
- Versions: 1 to 40, increasing modules per side. Version 1 is 21×21; each version adds 4 modules per side.
- ECC levels: L (7%), M (15%), Q (25%), H (30%) based on Reed–Solomon. Higher ECC tolerates more damage at the cost of capacity.
- Finder, alignment and timing patterns: enable robust detection and decoding.
3) Standardization: ISO/IEC 18004
QR codes were standardized in ISO/IEC 18004, ensuring interoperability across encoders/decoders. Model 2 became mainstream; Micro QR and variants support smaller marks.
4) Adoption waves
- Industrial: logistics, manufacturing, tracking.
- Consumer: smartphone cameras with native QR recognition removed the app barrier.
- COVID‑19 acceleration: contactless menus, check‑ins, payments.
5) QR vs other 2D codes
- QR: widespread, strong ECC, flexible design.
- Data Matrix: excellent for small items and direct part marking (DPM).
- Aztec: robust without quiet zone, common in transport tickets.
6) Dynamic QR and analytics
Dynamic QR uses short URLs that redirect to a changeable target, enabling analytics, A/B testing and governance. Static QR encodes the final content and is more durable offline.
7) Security and misuse
- Phishing risk via disguised URLs; prefer branded short domains.
- On device, show the URL before opening; encourage user vigilance.
8) The future
Expect richer styling (gradients, logos), better on‑device decoding, and integration with payments, IoT and verification workflows.