New Delhi:

Whether you are paying at a local shop, scanning Aadhaar-linked services, or logging into WhatsApp Web, the QR code (Quick Response code) has become a daily necessity. This black-and-white matrix is more than just a convenience, and it is a secure and fast way to transmit information, which is being used across India’s digital ecosystem from UPI apps to official portals.

But have you ever wondered where this revolutionary technology came from? Here is everything you need to know.

The QR code was first invented in 1994 by Japanese engineer Masahiro Hara. At the time, he was working at Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. The aim was to create a system that could track automotive parts more efficiently than the traditional barcodes used then. While Masahiro came up with the idea, Denso Wave refined and officially launched it for industrial use.

Surprisingly, the idea behind the QR code did not come from a lab or a corporate boardroom. Masahiro got his inspiration while playing the traditional board game ‘Go’, which uses a 19x19 grid of black and white stones.