What are QR codes?

QR codes are two-dimensional barcodes that were first invented in 1994 by a Japanese company called Denso Wave. QR codes were originally designed to be used in track and trace applications for the automotive industry. However, QR codes have since become popular in a wide range of different industries due to their ability to store large amounts of data in a small space.

QR codes can be read by smartphone cameras and special QR code reading apps. When a QR code is scanned, the encoded information is displayed on the screen of the smartphone. This can include text, website URLs, email addresses, phone numbers, or location coordinates.

QR codes have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way of sharing information quickly and easily. QR codes are particularly popular with businesses as a way of providing contactless information to customers. For example, many businesses now include QR codes on their business cards, flyers, and product packaging. When scanned, these QR codes can take the customer to the business’s website, social media page, or online store.

QR codes are also used in a variety of other ways. For example, QR codes can be used to share Wi-Fi passwords, open links in apps, or add contacts to your address book. QR codes can also be used to make payments via mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

The popularity of QR codes has grown exponentially in recent years. According to Statista, the number of QR code scans worldwide is expected to reach 14.6 billion by 2022. This growth is being driven by the increasing use of smartphones and the availability of QR code reading apps.

There are a variety of different uses for QR codes. The most popular use cases are listed below:

– Business cards: Include a QR code on your business card so that potential customers can quickly and easily find your website or social media page.

– Flyers and posters: Use QR codes to share links to online versions of flyers or posters. This is a great way to save paper and increase engagement with your marketing materials.

– Product packaging: Include a QR code on product packaging so that customers can scan it to learn more about the product or find online reviews.

– Event tickets: QR codes can be used to deliver event tickets directly to people’s smartphones. This is a convenient way to avoid queues and paper tickets.

– Wi-Fi passwords: Share Wi-Fi passwords with visitors by displaying a QR code that can be scanned to connect to the network.

– App links: Use QR codes to open links in specific apps. For example, you could use a QR code to take people directly to your business’s Facebook page.

– Contactless information: Provide contactless information such as your website URL, email address, or phone number by displaying a QR code.

QR codes have a wide range of potential uses and are well suited to the postmodern world of mobile devices and instant gratification. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to share information, QR codes are definitely worth considering.