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Home - Blog

Breaking Down QR Codes: A Clear and Simple Introduction

Author: Danny
October 7, 2025

4 min read

QR codes are advanced barcodes that store a lot of data.
They were first created in Japan in 1994 to keep track of cars during manufacturing.
QR codes work by storing information both horizontally and vertically, allowing them to hold much more data than traditional barcodes.
Using a QR code is simple: all you need is a smartphone with a camera. Scanning a QR code can open websites, download apps, or facilitate payment transactions.
QR codes are versatile and used in many areas, including advertising, marketing, payment transactions, museums, and restaurants.
The future of QR codes is promising, with advances in technology likely to allow for more complex and secure codes that can store even more information.
Understanding QR codes is not just about recognizing their presence or knowing how to scan them. It’s about appreciating their role in connecting our physical world with the digital one and being excited about the future possibilities they hold.

What’s a QR Code?

You might have seen those small square patterns made of tiny black and white squares in different places – on your favorite cereal box, in a magazine ad, or even on a billboard. These unique squares are called QR codes, and they’re a type of special barcode that has become incredibly popular in today’s digital world.

The Birth of QR Codes

The story of QR codes started in Japan in 1994. These codes were created by a company called Denso Wave, which is part of Toyota, to keep track of cars during manufacturing. But today, they’re used for so much more than just tracking cars!

How Do QR Codes Work?

What makes QR codes really special is how much information they can hold in such a small space. They can store things like numbers, letters, and even special types of writing like Kanji or Kana. A single QR code can hold as many as 3,000 letters or 7,000 numbers. This is because, unlike traditional barcodes that only store information horizontally, QR codes store information both horizontally and vertically.

How to Use a QR Code

Using a QR code is super easy. All you need is a smartphone with a camera. Most modern smartphones come with built-in QR code readers in their camera apps. When you scan a QR code, it quickly turns the information stored in the code into something you can use, like opening a website, downloading an app, or even paying for something.

The Many Uses of QR Codes

QR codes are used in so many different ways. In advertising and marketing, they can take you to websites, show you product details, and even special offers. They have also changed the way we pay for things by offering a touch-free, fast, and secure way to pay. You can find them in museums, where they give you more information about exhibits, or in restaurants where you can use them to look at the menu or check-in for contact tracing.

The Future of QR Codes

As we continue to advance in the digital world, QR codes are only going to get more useful. Technology will allow us to create even more complex and secure QR codes that can store even more information. As we start to use more smart devices in our daily lives, QR codes will play an even bigger role in connecting our physical world with the digital one.

Wrapping Up

QR codes have come a long way since their early days in the car manufacturing industry. Today, they are an important tool that helps us quickly and conveniently connect our physical world with the digital one. As technology continues to advance, we can only expect to see more and more uses for these handy little codes.

Understanding QR codes isn’t just about knowing what they are or how to scan them. It’s about realizing the huge role they play in making our lives easier and more connected, and being excited about all the future possibilities they hold.

Danny

Danny van der Ham is the Co-Founder of Trueqrcode, a SaaS platform that helps businesses create, manage, and track dynamic QR codes. Since 2022, he has led the platform’s growth to millions of scans worldwide, with a focus on innovation in Multi-Link, PDF, vCard, WiFi, and GS1 Barcode QR Codes.

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