Image credit: Mitya Ivanov/Unsplash Two-dimensional (2D) barcodes, more prominently recognized as QR codes, are back in fashion—with much demand for just about 'contactless' everything these days.

While prior to the pandemic it seemed like they were on their way out, 75.8 million U.S. smartphone users scanned a QR code last year, up by 15.3% compared to 2020.

QR Code Technology Demystified: From Black Squares to Smart Links. Posted: May 22, 2025 | Last updated: June 15, 2025. You’ve scanned them on menus, packages, tickets, and more — but how do QR ...