Qrcode JP キュー アール コード 読み取り was invented in Japan in 1994 by the company Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, originally to track automotive parts more efficiently during manufacturing. Unlike traditional barcodes, which store data in one direction, QR codes store information in two dimensions, allowing for much greater capacity and faster readability. The technology was made freely available without licensing fees, which encouraged rapid adoption not just in Japan, but worldwide.