Barcode Basics: Why You See It Everywhere and How to Scan It

 There is a possibility that you have noticed a square barcode on the business cards and other cards. In the QR code, there is a pixelated code and is designed in a square shape which helps the users to download the applications, can get a restaurant’s menu without any contact, and also help the users to promote the items and deals on the social media or website and much more.

The first QR code was invented in the mid 90s but after the invention QR code did not get much popularity till the era of the Smartphones, and when Smartphone was invented then it allowed to use of the digital mark in more speed and in various ways to make it very easy. As we know these days, our country is suffering from a pandemic, and in this era of the pandemic, it helps to contact and share information effortlessly.

What is QR Code?

Masahiro Hara, a chief engineer of Denso Wave, invented the first QR code in 1994, and at that time, when the vehicles and parts are moved through the manufacturing process, the QR code was used to help to track the vehicles and parts.

QR code is a kind of barcode that can be easily readable with the help of the Smartphone, and it saves the information in the form of the pixel in the square grid. As with the standard business card, QR code does not readjust from top to bottom, but it also reads from right to left.

The QR code design may vary, which depends upon what details it contains, and a QR code can store approx 7,000 digits and 4,000 characters, which includes special characters and punctuations. It also helps the user to encode the phone numbers and the internet address.

When you want to make your QR code more complex, you can add more data to it, and if you add more data, it will increase its structure and make it more complex, and even make it more personalized. The QR code is also readable when it contains 30% of the damage of the code and duplicity with it.

There is no need for any personal information when you generate a QR code. A code creator stores all the information about the codes like how many times a code was scanned, its time and location, and which kind of the operating system is using by that QR code.

Hackers cannot be able to hack a QR code, but they can generate a malicious QR code, and then they can send it to us through the fake website by which they can access our details and location as well, so it is essential for us when we generate our QR code then we should verify the source of that QR code.

Static vs. Dynamic QR Code

QR codes can be generated into multiple forms, totally dependent upon what kind of data they contain and their functions. QR code is divided into two ways: Static and Dynamic.

When a static QR code creates, it cannot be modified or changed, and it is ideal when we generate the QR code in mass form for an event. There is a drawback of this static QR code, and that is it may not allow the analytics to verify that how many times a single QR code is scanned as like our Wi-Fi password.

When a dynamic QR code generates, it allows you to make editing and changes according to the needs, and when the users scan the code, it will take them directly to the URL that it contains. QR code helps track and measure the advertising statics, and it offers us freedom of color packages that means we can add contrast color in it.

These added features allow the QR creator to know about at what time and which location and how many times a QR code was scanned, and it stores all the information CSV report that can be downloaded from the internet.

What Can You Do With A QR Code?

In this era, we can use the QR codes for the multipurpose as like we can use the QR code to download an app, send and receive money, add a contact, at the time of boarding a flight, to view a menu, access Wi-Fi and many more. We can also use the QR codes to track the products and their information, and there are endless possibilities with the QR codes.

There are several improvements in the QR codes, which Denso Wave does. These days, QR codes are increasingly used in the all over industries; that’s why it comes with several features: brand protection, anti-forgery measures, and traceability.

What Makes Up A QR Code?

QR code looks like a puzzle, but it is essential for its functions. Here are some essential elements of QR codes which are mentioned below –

• Position detection markers,

• Alignment marker,

• Timing pattern,

• Version information,

• Format information,

• Data and error correction keys,

• Quiet zone.

How To Scan QR Codes?

Approx all mobile phones have a QR code scanner, and in the case when you do not have a QR code scanner, you can download it from the phone app store.

When you are scanning a QR code from an iPhone, then firstly you should open your camera, and if your iPhone has a scanner, then you should open it; after that, you should make a lineup from all the corners by which you can quickly scan the code, and when the code will scan then it will take you directly at the link at your screen.

A similar process is used by Android phones also, in this firstly you should press and hold the home button and wait until the options are popup to select an option, and when it popup then you can select QR code scanner, and then you can make a lineup from all the corners by which camera can easily read the code.

Blanche Harris is a very innovative person, and he always writes about the newest updates and subscriptions plan through mcafee.com/activate. He covers how you can enhance user skills. His blogs have been published on various websites, blogs and e-magazines.