QR Code Generation: We scan QR codes with our phones dozens of times a day. But have you ever wondered what technology is behind them? Can you create one yourself at home? Learn the full story.
Making QR Codes at Home
QR Code Generation: Nowadays, from vegetable carts to large shopping malls, you'll see QR codes for payment everywhere. People take out their phones, scan them, and the payment is made in two seconds. Not only this, but many shops now also create QR codes for menus, and QR codes are also created for sharing information or filling out a form. People often assume that creating these requires software or advanced coding.
But creating one is as easy as uploading a photo to social media. You can create your own QR code from the comfort of your home in just a minute. Whether you want to share your home Wi-Fi password with friends, create a digital card for your shop, or send a location link to an event, you can create it yourself without spending a single penny. Let's explain how a QR code is made.
How to create your own QR code
To create your own QR code at home, you can find many free websites and apps online, such as Canva, QR Code Monkey, or Google Chrome's built-in feature. First, open any of these free QR generator websites in your phone or computer's browser. There, you'll find different options for what you want to hide in the code, such as a website link, your phone number, plain text, or Wi-Fi details.
Choose your preferred option and fill in the information in the box below. Nowadays, you can even colorize this boring, black-and-white box and add your company logo or photo to the center. Simply click the Generate button, and your code is ready. Download it in PNG or PDF format, print it, and paste it wherever you like.
How does this technology work?
People often wonder how these dots work. QR stands for Quick Response, which was developed by a Japanese company in 1994 to track vehicle parts. It uses matrix barcode technology. Previously, line-like barcodes only stored data horizontally on one side, so they contained very limited information.
But a QR code is two-dimensional, or 2D, meaning it stores data in both horizontal and vertical lines. Computers don't understand our language; they only understand binary code, the language of 0s and 1s. Each black dot within a QR code represents a 1, and each white space represents a 0. When you enter a link, the generator converts it into this pattern of zeros and ones and displays it as those tiny square dots.
How does the scanner work?
You may have noticed that every QR code has large square boxes at three corners. These are called position markers. They tell your phone's camera whether the code is upright or upside down, so it can instantly detect it even if you tilt your phone and scan it. Furthermore, it uses a remarkable technology called Reed-Solomon error correction. This technology can help correct any slight distortion of your QR code.
Even if tea is spilled on it or dust accumulates, the scanner can easily read it. This technology creates a backup copy of the data within the code, ensuring that the data remains safe even if up to 30 percent of the code is corrupted. However, when creating codes at home, always keep in mind that if you are printing them for a long time, choose a static code that never expires.
