Barcodes have been used extensively all over the world in various fields, starting from POS systems in supermarkets and convenience stores, to production instruction systems in the manufacturing industry and ordering systems in enterprises. As barcodes became widespread, their convenience became widely recognized and the need for further functionality arose. Such needs included demands for a larger information capacity for storing all the relevant data in a barcode and also for a small barcode to use on electronic parts. The "2D code" was created to meet these demands.
A 2D code has an information capacity up to several dozens times more than that of a barcode, while the size of a 2D code is over several dozens times smaller than that of a barcode. With these advantages, 2D codes are used increasingly more in various fields.
This white paper discusses features of 2D codes (how they differ from barcodes), typical 2D codes, and how to prepare for 2D code implementation (deciding what data to print and module size).