Generate QR codes using Python

In this article we look at a way of generating QR codes using Python

A QR code  is a type of  two-dimensional barcode invented in 1994 by the Japanese automotive company Denso Wave.

A barcode is a machine-readable optical label that can contain information about the item to which it is attached. In practice, QR codes often contain data for a locator, identifier, or tracker that points to a website or application.

A QR code uses four standardized encoding modes (numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, and kanji) to store data efficiently; extensions may also be used.

The Quick Response system became popular outside the automotive industry due to its fast readability and greater storage capacity compared to standard UPC barcodes. Applications include product tracking, item identification, time tracking, document management, and general marketing.

A QR code consists of black squares arranged in a square grid on a white background, which can be read by an imaging device such as a camera, and processed using Reed–Solomon error correction until the image can be appropriately interpreted.

The required data is then extracted from patterns that are present in both horizontal and vertical components of the image

Installation

For a standard install (which will include pillow for generating images), run:

pip install qrcode[pil]

Examples

A basic example

In this example we create a qr code

# importing the qrcode library  
import qrcode  
# generating a QR code using the make() function  
qr_img = qrcode.make("Welcome to maxpython.")  
# saving the image file  
qr_img.save("qr-img.jpg")  

This created the following QR code

Generating an Advanced QR Code

The programmers can customize a QR code using a QRCode object which consists of the parameters shown in the following table:

import qrcode
qr = qrcode.QRCode(
    version=1,
    error_correction=qrcode.constants.ERROR_CORRECT_L,
    box_size=10,
    border=4,
)
qr.add_data('Welcome to maxpython.')
qr.make(fit=True)

img = qr.make_image(fill_color="black", back_color="yellow")

Link

https://github.com/lincolnloop/python-qrcode