Blog Entry

What is a QR Code and why would you use one?

Written by kflores on July 9, 2010

I was doing a little bit of research on QR (Quick Response) Codes today. QR Codes are 2D images similar to the barcodes you see on products scanned at stores. However, QR Code images can store much more data - 7,089 characters vs. 20 digits for regular barcodes. Typically, QR Codes would be scanned by people via mobile devices from printed material in the real world: posters, signs, products, locations, magazines, etc.

Because the concept primarily involves scanning via mobile phones, Asian countries have adopted the concept more readily, like other more advanced mobile functions such as mobile payments. The QR Code concept hasn't quite caught on in the US, as far as I've noticed.

What would you store on a QR Code? Well, most likely links to promotional websites or coupons. But, website http://mobile-barcodes.com has a free QR Code generator that allows you to easily encode a VCard (electronic business card), a message, a phone number, an email, or an SMS-ready message. And, of course, a website link could just as direct someone to an image or other file type like an MP3.

According to a Fast Company article earlier this year, there were QR Codes on conference badges and other promotional materials at the South by Southwest conference, presumably with the badge holder's personal contact information.

At least two articles suggest that Facebook has been experimenting with QR Codes for user profiles/statuses:

There are free apps out there for the major mobile handsets (iPhone, Windows Mobile, Nokia, BlackBerry, Android); just do a search for "QR Code", "QR Reader", or "Barcode Scanner".

If you want to read more about QR Codes, here are a few more links: