QR codes are a useful way to allow individuals with a smartphone to access online content quickly by simply opening their smartphone camera app and scanning the code. 

In printed material like church bulletins, one could ask a person to visit "https://example.com/signupform?id=0118-999-881-999-119-725-3" - or simply scan the code.

QR codes (Quick Response codes) were invented in 1994 by Masahiro Hara, an engineer at Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota. Here’s a brief history:

Origins (1994)

Hara developed QR codes to track automotive parts during manufacturing. The existing barcodes of the time could only hold about 20 characters, which wasn’t enough for complex inventory data. He drew inspiration from the black and white stones of the board game Go when designing the pattern.

Key design innovations

• The three square “finder patterns” in the corners allow scanners to detect the code at any angle
• QR codes can hold up to ~4,300 alphanumeric characters — far more than a barcode
• Built-in error correction means codes still work even if up to 30% is damaged

Open standard (1994–2000s)

Denso Wave held the patent but chose not to enforce it, making QR codes freely usable. The ISO standardized them in 2000. This openness was crucial to their spread.

Slow adoption, then explosion

For years, QR codes were mostly used in Japanese manufacturing and retail. Wider consumer adoption was hindered by the need for dedicated scanner apps. The smartphone revolution changed everything — by the late 2000s, camera phones made scanning effortless.

COVID-19 acceleration (2020)

The pandemic dramatically accelerated adoption worldwide. Restaurants replaced physical menus with QR codes, venues used them for contactless check-ins, and vaccine records were stored in them. This period normalized QR codes for a generation of users who had previously ignored them.

Today

In 2022, Apple and Google both added native QR scanning to their camera apps (no separate app needed), cementing QR codes as ubiquitous infrastructure. They’re now used in payments (WeChat Pay, Venmo), marketing, authentication (2FA), ticketing, and much more.

Typically, QR codes are used for URLs (webpage addresses, like 'google.com') but can be used for a variety of purposes like:

• e-mail addresses
• phone numbers
• vCards (like a digital 'business card')
• wifi connection information
• other things...

Because more advanced functions are not widely supported by smartphone makers yet, this page provides for the most basic but most reliable use cases.

Yes. Well, kind-of.

There are many QR code generators available on the web, but its increasingly difficult to find ones that don't:

• require creating an account
• require payment
• insert other information without your knowing
• redirect to your information from their website
• collect and sell personal information of the person scanning the code (IP address, browsing history, geographic location, device type, etc)

This generator is very simple, talks to no servers other than what you specify, and is easier to scan. 

DO: Use a QR code in announcements, posters and digital signage to direct your users to one of the following on their mobile device:

• Online sign-up forms
• Member portals
• Digital newsletters
• Online Giving

DO: Verify your QR code works before publishing using your smartphone. You can also use specialized apps (Like Scandit Showcase) for Apple iPhone and Android Phones to see precisely what data is encoded in your (or any) QR code. (if you're viewing this on your desktop computer - QR codes that you can scan with your smartphone to download these apps can be found below.

DO: Also provide a URL where users without a smartphone can access the content.

DON'T: Don't use QR codes on webpages (unless they must use their smartphone)

DON'T: Don't use QR codes that you haven't tested.

Scan this code by opening the camera app on your iPhone. You will be directed to the 'Scandit Showcase' app that can be downloaded for free.

Scan this code by opening the camera app on your SmartPhone. You will be directed to the 'Scandit Showcase' app that can be downloaded for free.