QR Code

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The QR Code for Wikipedia (EN) Main Page

A QR Code is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The "QR" is derived from "Quick Response", as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed. QR Codes are most common in Japan, and are currently the most popular type of two dimensional code in Japan.

1 Overview
2 Storage
3 Micro QR Code
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Overview

Although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR Codes are now used for inventory management in a wide variety of industries. More recently, the inclusion of QR Code reading software on camera phones in Japan has led to a wide variety of new, consumer-oriented applications, aimed at relieving the user of the tedious task of entering data into their mobile phone. QR Codes storing addresses and URLs are becoming increasingly common in magazines and advertisements in Japan. The addition of QR Codes on business cards is also becoming common, greatly simplifying the task of entering the personal details of a new acquaintance into the address book of one's mobile phone.

Consumers with capture programs and a PC with an RS-232C-interface may use a scanner to acquire the data.

The Japanese standard for QR Codes, JIS X 0510, was released in January of 1999, and a corresponding ISO International Standard, ISO/IEC18004, was approved in June of 2000.

"QR Code is open in the sense that the specification of QR Code is disclosed and that the patent right owned by Denso Wave is not exercised."—from the Denso-Wave website

[edit] Storage

QR Code Data capacity
Numeric only	Max. 7,089 characters
Alphanumeric	Max. 4,296 characters
Binary (8 bits)	Max. 2,953 bytes
Kanji/Kana	Max. 1,817 characters

Error Correction capacity
Level L	7% of codewords can be restored.
Level M	15% of codewords can be restored.
Level Q	25% of codewords can be restored.
Level H	30% of codewords can be restored.

The example below illustrates how the QR code handles distortion. Pixels were either added or removed from the original code to examine the borderline distortion level. Both images where data was altered are still recognisable and use the "L" level of error correction.