How Do QR Codes Actually Work?
The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption and broadened the application of QR codes in day to day life. Most notably, it's been used as a part of track and trace systems and digital vaccine passports in government efforts across the world to tackle the pandemic. Aside from pandemics, it's now used in restaurant dining where we order food via codes glued to the table and the code somehow contains information about what table your sitting at and sends you to the website with the menu to order…and hey presto your food and drinks arrive momentarily after! The most common and well-known application of QR code is to represent web links to business websites, social media pages, or videos you have uploaded. So what are these codes really and how do they work?
The TL:DR Key Questions Answered
- What does QR code stand for? Quick Response Code.
- What is a QR code? A matrix barcode, but we could say it's essentially a 2D barcode.
- What is a Bar code? A method of representing data in a visual, machine-readable form.
- How do I use it in my day to day life? At minimum a camera and internet connection AKA a mobile phone.
- Why can I still read QR codes which are damaged or broken? QR codes have built-in error correction.
