QR Code

December 10, 2018

You’ve probably come across some of those pixelated square barcodes that seem to be everywhere– especially in marketing materials where space is at a premium. Those squiggly 2D squares make up a QR code.


QR code example

What is a QR Code?

A QR Code is a flat, two-dimensional barcode that can be read by smartphones. Marketers can encode over 4,000 characters of additional information into those small, two-dimensional designs.

Something to note: once a QR code is generated, it cannot be changed. What can be changed is the content it points to (e.g., the actual text and image content on a landing page that the QR code sends you to).

What Information Can a QR Code Contain?

QR codes can act in several different ways. They can:

  • Display text to the user
  • Open a specific URL
  • Save a contact to the user’s address book
  • Begin composing a text message on the user’s phone

QR Code is Also a Trademark

An interesting footnote: the term “QR Code” is a registered trademark by the company called Denso Wave Incorporated. That’s because they were the company that created QR codes back in 1994. Don’t worry though. Using this technology is now free.

Read More About QR Code

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