BarcodesQRCodes
Barcodes and QR codes are optical machine-readable representations of data. They are used for tracking and identifying objects, products, and information. Barcodes consist of parallel lines and spaces of varying widths, while QR codes are two-dimensional matrix barcodes that can store more data and are more versatile. Barcodes were invented in the 1940s and have since become ubiquitous in retail, logistics, and manufacturing. QR codes were developed in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave and have gained popularity in recent years due to their ability to encode URLs, contact information, and other data types. Both barcodes and QR codes can be scanned using specialized devices or smartphone cameras with appropriate software. They are widely used for inventory management, product authentication, and data collection in various industries.