Micro QR Code Scanner
With the Scanbot Micro QR Code Scanner SDK you can integrate fast barcode scanning into your mobile app. Turn any iOS, Android, or Windows device into a flexible scanning tool and scan even the tiniest barcodes.
Definition
The Micro QR Code is a smaller version of the traditional QR Code symbology. Its small size is achieved by reducing the number of position detection patterns to one instead of three and by minimizing the quiet zone to be only two modules wide. It is still readable by most standard QR Code scanners.
- Storage capacity of up to 35 numeric or 21 alphanumeric characters and can be as small as 11×11 modules
- Error correction levels range from L to Q (depending on the Micro QR version used) with a maximum of 25% damage tolerance
- Minimum size: 0.4 x 0.4 inches or 1 x 1 cm
History
Micro QR Code was developed in 1994 in Japan by Denso Wave as an extension of the original QR Code. In 2004, it was standardized as part of the Japanese Industrial Standards as JIS-X-0510. Since then, it has been incorporated into various international standards.
Applications
Micro QR Code was designed for applications with limited space, answering the need to encode information in tiny spaces where traditional QR Codes would be too large. The Micro QR Code’s small size makes it perfect for use cases such as on circuit boards and electrical items, product labels in electronics, inventory management, and several other industries.
Benefits
The main benefit of Micro QR Codes is their small size compared to standard QR Codes. They are still able to encode an amount of information that is sufficient for URLs, SKU codes, or other short identifiers while requiring only little space.
Fast and accurate scanning of Micro QR Codes and other 2D barcodes
Replace expensive handheld scanners with smartphones to scan even the tiniest Micro QR Codes, regardless of lighting conditions. Thanks to the focus-locked “Tiny Barcodes” scanning feature of the Scanbot Barcode Scanner SDK, you can scan Micro QR Codes in milliseconds!
FAQs
What is the difference between a QR Code and a Micro QR Code?
Even though Micro QR Codes are a variant of regular QR Codes, the two types differ in several aspects. Micro QR Codes are, as the name suggests, smaller in design and structure than QR Codes. Instead of three, they have only one position detection pattern and a significantly reduced data capacity compared to QR Codes of 15 bytes of binary data to 2,953 bytes of binary data. Ultimately, they are used for cases where space is limited and only minimal information needs to be encoded.