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How QR Codes Work: A Technical Guide
•8 min read
Anatomy of a QR Code
QR Codes (Quick Response Codes) are 2D matrix barcodes consisting of black squares arranged on a white background. They can store up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters.
The Finder Patterns
The three large squares in the corners tell the scanner the orientation and size of the code, allowing 360-degree scanning.
Error Correction
QR codes use Reed-Solomon error correction, allowing them to remain readable even if up to 30% of the code is damaged. There are four error correction levels: L (7%), M (15%), Q (25%), and H (30%).
Data Encoding
QR codes support multiple encoding modes: numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, and Kanji. The mode is automatically selected based on your data for optimal storage.
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