What is the difference between Barcode and QR code

Bernard Silver and Norman Joseph were the first people to patent the first barcode in 1952, and it looked like a bullseye.


On the other hand, the first Quick Response Code was created in 1994 to track vehicle parts. Hence, the two are not similar. So, what is the difference between a barcode and a QR code?


What is a Barcode?

This is a one-dimensional or 1D scannable label with a series of vertical lines. The thickness and distance between the vertical lines determine the specific code of a product on which the label is placed.


They are known for keeping inventories, but people use them to track parcels, tally votes, or check out books in a library nowadays.


To read the content encoded in a then, you need a specific scanner. These labels exist in diverse types including, universal product code, PDF417, and data matrix code.


What is a QR code?

The difference between a barcode and a QR code is that the former has checkerboard-like, scannable squares in two or three dimensions unlike the latter. There are two types of Quick Response Codes; 2D and 3D codes.


A Quick Response code resembles a link, but you scan it instead of clicking to access its contents. They can store product information, links to websites, app downloads, and much more.


Analyzing Potential Readability Issues

QR code vs barcode readability- It is easier to scan a Quick Response Code from any direction, but you must scan its one-dimensional counterpart from a proper angle.

Besides, a standard scanner cannot read a 2D code, but an imager scanner can scan both a 1D and 2D code.


Both options, however, are prone to reliability issues that result from;

  • Inadequate quiet zone- they all require a quiet or a white zone surrounding them. For 1D codes, this zone should be at least 10 times the narrowest bar and extends to both the right and the left of the symbol.

For 2D codes, the white area should be at least the width of one cell on all four sides. Therefore, if other content overlaps this quiet zone, the scanner may not decode it.


  • Distorted symbols- If a code label has distorted characters caused by scratches, stains, or debris, the scanner may not read or decode it.

  • Printing inconsistencies- Most readability issues come from printing inconsistencies, such as skewed symbols or uniformity issues which makes content stored useless.

  • Low contrast- for a scanner to read both codes accurately, it requires high contrast. Some of the issues that result in low contrast are printing on dark backgrounds, lack of uniformity, or lighting conditions.

However, when it comes to a barcode vs QR code, 1D codes require a higher contrast than 2D codes.


Why is QR code better than barcode?

When comparing a QR code vs a barcode, the former stores approximately one hundred times more information compared to the latter and is the reason why they are used for small sets of data, such as in tracking and packaging labels.


On the other hand, Quick Response codes store all forms of information. From business contact information to promotional data. Similarly, it is easy to create a Quick Response code, just as it is for its counterpart.


Also, when it comes to ease of use, you can quickly scan from any surface, be it at a horizontal or vertical angle.


It is also quick to access the information because you only need to scan it, and a notification displays a link that will redirect you to the original content.


That is why a QR code is better than a barcode for your business operations.