Basics of 2D Barcodes

Learn about the history and the most common types of 2D barcodes.

Short history of 2D barcodes

Two-dimensional (2D) barcodes have a relatively short history that has revolutionized the way we encode and transmit information. The first 2D barcode was developed in 1994 by a Japanese corporation, Denso Wave. This barcode was called the Quick Response (QR) code.

The QR code was designed to encode more information than traditional 1D barcodes by using a two-dimensional matrix of black and white squares. This allows it to store up to several hundred times more data.

Get hands-on with 1200+ tech skills courses.