A QR code, which stands for "Quick Response code," is a type of two- dimensional (2D) matrix barcode invented in 1994 by Masahiro Hara of the Japanese company Denso Wave. It was originally created to track automobile parts during manufacturing more efficiently than traditional barcodes

. Unlike standard barcodes that store data in one direction, QR codes store information both horizontally and vertically, allowing them to hold significantly more data. They consist of black squares arranged on a white background, which can be scanned and decoded by digital devices such as smartphone cameras

. QR codes can encode various types of data including website URLs, phone numbers, text, calendar events, PDFs, images, and more. They are widely used in product tracking, marketing, contactless payments, digital menus, and other applications that bridge offline and online information

. In summary, a QR code is a square-shaped barcode designed for quick and easy access to encoded digital information by scanning with a camera or QR code reader