Guide to QR Code: What It is and How to Scan It
- Tips
Overview
QR code is a type of two-dimensional barcode, abbreviated from Quick Response, because the inventor hopes that QR code can quickly decode its content. QR codes were first used by car manufacturers to track parts. Nowadays, QR codes have been widely used in various industries.
Traditional one-dimensional barcodes can only be scanned from one direction, while QR codes can be scanned from two directions. Therefore, QR codes store more information than one-dimensional barcodes. Once a one-dimensional barcode is destroyed, it cannot be scanned, but the information can be read by manually entering the digits at the bottom. The QR code can still be scanned normally after a certain degree of damage, which enables various designs of QR codes. It is worth noting that the higher the fault tolerance rate, the less information can be included.
Contents
Composition of QR code
A QR code typically consists of the following 6 parts:
① Quiet Zone:
This is the blank area around the QR code. It enables scanning devices to distinguish QR codes from content that should not be scanned.
② Finder patterns:
Finder patterns are three identical square markers located in the remaining three corners of the QR code except for the lower right corner. Their role is to help the device identify the QR code and determine the correct direction. This allows your device to read QR codes from different angles.
③ Alignment pattern:
Alignment pattern can help scanning devices moderately compensate for image distortion. Able to locate a QR code when its area is too large. Alignment patterns are not present in all QR codes.
④ Timing pattern:
A Timing pattern is an L-shaped line that connects three Finder patterns. It is used to determine how large the data matrix in the QR code is, and to enable corrupted QR codes to be read correctly.
⑤ Version information:
Do you know that there are about 40 versions of QR codes? Version information is a number of tags in a QR code that record the version of the QR code. Each version differs in size by 4 units.
⑥ Data cells:
Data cells are the main part of QR code.
Classification of QR codes
QR codes are usually divided into static QR codes and dynamic QR codes .
The static QR code points to a destination that cannot be changed after generation. If you want to change the destination, you need to regenerate a new QR code. A static QR code is a one-time QR code. In contrast, a dynamic QR code is a QR code that can still change the destination after it is generated.
Functions of QR code
After a QR code is scanned, it usually redirects you to the target website or application, whereby the QR code can accomplish multiple tasks:
① Open the specified URL
By converting URLs into QR codes, QR codes are scanned and redirected to designated websites, which is also the most common application of QR codes.
② For personal business cards
You can create a QR code for your resume, personal website, and even LinkedIn's personal information to obtain a QR code business card.
③ For social media
You can create a QR code for your personal page on social media, and others can follow you by scanning your QR code.
④ Used to add friends
Communication software can generate a personal QR code for you, and others can add friends by scanning your personal QR code.
⑤ For sharing WI-FI
You can directly connect to WI-FI by scanning the WI-FI QR code, without having to search for and fill in a password in the WI-FI list.
⑥ E-mail QR code
The email QR code can fill in the recipient, email address, and even the body of the email for you. You only need to complete the final send operation.
⑦ Text QR code
After scanning this code, you can obtain text information. This information can be read without a network.
⑧ Download Software
Scanning a QR code can be directed to a software download page, or its page in the app store, to help you complete the download.
Can I create my own QR code?
Can I generate my own QR code? The answer is yes. QR codes can be generated through QR code generation software, and even many software have the function of generating QR codes. For example, the mobile terminal of Chrome can generate a QR code for a page. Including many social media software, it can also directly generate personal QR codes for you. It should be noted that this type of QR code is usually a static QR code, which usually does not require a fee. If you need to generate dynamic QR codes, this is usually not a free service.
Is the QR code itself secure?
Yes, the QR code is secure. It only serves as a redirect and does not record any of your data. However, you need to be aware that illegal individuals may use QR codes to direct you to dangerous websites, thereby stealing your information and causing losses to you. Therefore, please ensure that the source of the QR code is reliable and do not scan unknown QR codes. Of course, if you are afraid that scanning QR codes will expose your personal information, you can also open your VPN before scanning, as VPN can effectively protect your personal information from theft. I recommend using a secure, anonymous and fastest MetroVPN .
How do I scan QR codes?
If you use your phone to scan the QR code, you do not need to download any software. You just need to open the camera application on your phone, align the QR code, and follow the prompts to operate. The operation is the same for both iOS and Android systems. Of course, this also requires your phone to have a built-in QR code scanner. Fortunately, today's mobile phones generally have built-in QR code scanners.
If you need to scan QR codes on other devices, such as a computer, you may need to download additional QR code scanning software.
