Two-dimensional data matrix bar codes have been around for quite some time. The basic data matrix code consists of a series of black and white squares arranged in either a square or rectangular ...

QR codes, a popular tool for providing contactless payment options and digital menus, are smarter, more versatile alternatives to 1D barcodes. Their high character capacity is one reason they're ...

In terms of privacy, QR codes can’t actually store data—they just display it. How much information about yourself you’re giving away depends on the app you’re using to scan.

For as quick and convenient as QR codes are, they aren't 100% risk-free, since all kinds of data can be contained within them. Wikipedia spells it out best in their QR code risks section: ...

Even in the QR-code future, the barcode might still linger on certain items, both old and new—in the 2030s, ’40s, and probably for the rest of your life.