• January 15, 2026
How does a QR code work?

QR codes look like simple black-and-white squares, yet they carry structured data that a camera can decode in a fraction of a second. When you point your phone at a QR code, the camera captures an image and software interprets the pattern into text, a URL, Wi‑Fi credentials, payment details, or other data. The process can feel “visual,” but it is mostly computational pattern recognition rather than human-like visual cognition.