QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response Code ) is the trademark for a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional barcode ) first designed for the automotive industry in Japan . A barcode is a machine-readable optical label that contains information about the item to which it is attached. A QR code uses four standardized encoding modes (numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, and kanji ) to efficiently store data; extensions may also be used. supported extensions, virtually any type of data.