QR codes were invented in 1994 by DENSO WAVE, a division of DENSO Corporation in Japan. The invention was led by Masahiro Hara and his small team in response to the limitations of barcodes, which could only store around 20 alphanumeric characters.
As barcodes became widespread, users, particularly in industries like automotive, demanded a system capable of encoding more data. Hara’s team developed a two-dimensional code that could store significantly more data, up to 7,000 numerals, while being scannable from any angle.
Their innovative design included position-detecting square patterns, enabling fast, efficient reading. The QR code took off because of its versatility and widespread availability. DENSO WAVE made the QR code specifications publicly available, allowing anyone to use the technology without worrying about patent restrictions.
This openness, combined with its ability to hold a large amount of data and be read quickly, led to its rapid adoption, starting in industries like automotive and eventually spreading to the public. Smart phones with QR code scanning capabilities helped propel and create mainstream acceptance of this standard.
