Origin of the QR Code

• Year: 1994
• Place: Japan
• Creator: Masahiro Hara, an engineer at Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota.

Why was it invented?Toyota needed a fast and efficient way to track parts in its factories. Traditional barcodes were slow and had limited storage capacity. Hara and his team wanted something that:

• Could be scanned from any direction (360°).
• Was faster to read.
• Could hold more information.

What makes it special?A QR code can:

• Store over 7,000 numeric characters or 4,000 alphanumeric characters.
• Include URLs, text, emails, phone numbers, etc.
• Function even if up to 30% damaged, thanks to error correction.

Fun fact:Denso Wave did not patent the QR code, leaving it free for anyone to use. This helped its global expansion.Global expansionAlthough initially used only in the automotive industry, over time it began to be used in:

• Marketing and advertising
• Mobile payments
• Website access
• Digital menus
• Event tickets
• And more recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, for contact tracing and registration.

TodayIt is a global standard. Almost all smartphones can scan QR codes with their cameras, and they are used for everything from contactless payments to augmented reality experiences.