2D Coding
As bar codes became popular and their convenience universally recognized, the market began to call for codes capable of storing more information, more character types, and that could be printed in a smaller space.
As a result, various efforts were made to increase the amount of information stored by bar codes, such as increasing the number of bar code digits or layout multiple bar codes. However, these improvements also caused problems such as enlarging the bar code area, complicating reading operations, and increasing printing cost.
2D Code emerged in response to these needs and problems. QR and other 2D codes are being used more and more by businesses and partners within the supply chain. Compared to 1D bar codes, 2D codes can be more tolerant of fluctuations in print quality. And 2D codes can only be read and decoded using an image-based reader (a camera).
Applications for 2D Codes:
- Product Identification
- Product Traceability
- Promotion and marketing
- Product origin & other details
Adoption of 2D codes is increasing due to companies exploring this symbology for multiple requirements.
The most common 2D symbologies are:
The technologies that can print 2D codes are: