QR codes are made of black and white squares, each representing a bit. In simple words, These squares represent a pattern called binary codes. These bits encode different characters into the text. Generally, QR codes have three squares for alignment so that they can be scanned in any direction, making it easy and quick for an individual to scan. While the other small squares help a QR code scanner or barcode reader read them. QR codes are two-dimensional and only need a QR code scanner which is available free of cost on your smartphones. Moreover, QR codes can be decoded in several directions and scanned more than a thousand times to retrieve data or make payments.
QR codes could be scanned directly by your smartphone. You need your smartphone’s camera to the QR code, which then scans, and the system in your smartphone analyzes the QR code. It does this by breaking the whole thing down into a grid. The QR code scanner app looks at the individual grid squares and gives each one a value based on whether it is white or black. This helps to decide them and provides information to the user.
Contents
Parts of a QR Code
A standard QR code has six components:
Quiet Zone
It is the empty white border around the outside of the code. It is an essential component of a QR code because it encodes what is inside it and is necessary for retrieval.
Finder Pattern
The finder pattern is the three QR black squares in the bottom left, top left, and top right corners. It is essential as it helps you to identify a QR code.
Alignment Pattern
A smaller square near the bottom right corner is the alignment pattern. And QR codes must be read from various angles.
Timing Pattern
An L-shaped line between the three squares is called a timing pattern. It is essential because it helps you identify individual squares within the QR code.
Version Information
A small data field near the top correct finder pattern is called version information. It is an essential component of the QR code as it helps to tell the version of the QR code.
Data Cells
Now all the other information in the QR code that has the actual data, like links, location, phone number, etc., are called data cells.
Can you read QR codes manually?
Yes, you can also enter the QR code manually instead of just scanning it. So whenever you’re given a QR code to check for any data, you can scan it or enter it manually. If you open an app, two options are:
- Scan QR Code
- Enter a Code
Thus you can select one from them. If you choose to enter a code, you can manually enter the QR Code.
How to scan a QR Code?
Here’s how you can scan QR codes without downloading any application whatsoever.
- Open a QR code reader on your phone or your browser.
- Upload the images on the application.
- Download the URL or the data stored in the QR code.
There are many QR code applications, but you can use online QR or barcode scanners if you don’t want to download any application on your device.
