Although QR codes were created and developed several decades ago, for a long time they have been an underestimated tool for saving and reading the information embedded in them. Only recently have they come back into favor, finding a number of minor and extended applications.
What does a QR code mean?
QR (Quick Response) codes are nothing more than graphic codes that can be used to save various types of text information, shortcuts or links placed in a square field.
Their reading, in turn, is then possible most often using smartphones with Android or iOS on board, using special and dedicated mobile applications or the option of scanning QR codes in the camera installed by default on the smartphone.
The history of QR codes
The QR code was developed in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave, which is why QR codes were popular especially in Japan for many years. Six years after the OR codes were created, they have become an international standard recognized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) since the beginning of this century.
In October 1997, the symbolism was included in the Uniform Symbol Specifications by AIM Global (Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility) as the ISS QR Code. In March 1998, the Japanese organization JEIDA (Japanese Electronic Industry Development Association) included it as the JEIDA-55 standard. In January 1999, it became a JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) standard – JIS X 0510. In June 2000, the International Organization for Standardization included it as the ISO/IEC18004 standard.
Source: Wikipedia.
OR codes have only been appreciated by the rest of the world in recent years, and their popularity can be proven by the fact that the ability to read them appeared a few years ago as a built-in option in the cameras of Android and iOS smartphones. So basically, most smartphone users can use them without the need to install additional applications on their phone.
Where to get the QR code?
QR code generator as a mobile application
I looked through several QR code generators for iOS, most of them had not been updated for years and displayed ads every time. It looks better on Android, for example, two items are available in Google Play, systematically updated and with good opinions – QR Code Generator – QR Code Creator & QR Maker and QR Code Generator, and one item with the last update in 2015, but without ads and by a Polish programmer – PL Barcode Generator.
QR code generator via website
The most convenient option for creating a QR code will be the tools available in the browser. These include the QR Code Generator, in which we will create a QR code for plain text with any information embedded, e-mail or SMS messages, as well as a QR code from which it will be possible to read the password, for example, for a guest account in our WiFi network.
You can find similar functionalities in the QRonline or Pageloot tools.
How can I generate a QR code?
However, by far the best option for simple, quick and free QR code generation will be the tool available on the well-known Canva platform.
Before generating a QR code, we can decide whether we want the QR code itself or create and embed it in a broader project. It may be: a document, a video, a post or cover photo on Facebook or Instagram, a presentation, a logo, a CV or a business card, or many other possible projects for which it will be useful to embed a QR code.
Let’s check how to generate a regular QR code with a size of 500 x 500 px. Here we can choose the background colors and margin around the QR code and indicate the address of our website to which the QR code should be scanned. It can also be the address of an event on Facebook or another website.
After everything, click generate QR code and download it in the format we want. The project is saved in our Canva account, we can modify it in the future, for example with a different destination address, and download it to our disk again.
You can also use it in other projects we have created on the Canva platform, such as a business card – just copy the generated QR code and paste it into an existing or new project.
How to read a QR code with your phone?
As I mentioned earlier, reading QR codes is possible using the regular camera application built into smartphones with Android from version 9 and iOS from version 11. In the case of iOS, most Apple smartphones in use have this system installed, when it comes to earlier versions of Android you can here you can use the application that I mentioned in the QR code generation option.
We also recommend: How to scan a QR code
Examples of uses of QR codes
Business cards, timetables, museums, websites
QR codes are used primarily when we have little space at our disposal and we want to provide their recipients with more information. So we can place such QR codes on ordinary business cards, bus stops, next to exhibits in museums or on our websites.
Recently, such an option has even appeared in browsers. For example, in Google Chrome we can scan any page on the desktop with a smartphone and quickly open it on a mobile device.
Messengers and transfer data
Popular messengers use QR codes to authorize subsequent devices on which we want to use them. It is also a popular option for transferring funds – QR codes are used in this regard, for example, by PayPal or Revolut.
Also in the case of Google or Microsoft, you have probably encountered the option of scanning a QR code when turning on the generation of authorization codes by Google or Microsoft Authenticator.
Medical uses
The universality and usefulness of QR codes can also be proven by the fact that they were used in EU countries to create the EU Covid Certificate, which every vaccinated person can print or generate in the application and present when traveling to other countries that require it. In Poland, these are the mObywatel and mojaIKP applications.
Summary
As you can see, QR codes have become almost everyday life, we can find them everywhere on the Internet or in public spaces. This is hardly surprising, because the scope of their use is limited only by our imagination. It is undoubtedly a convenient and functional tool for providing more information in an accessible and minimalist form to any interested recipient with a smartphone in their pocket.
Stock Image from Depositphotos.
