Tiêu chuẩn QR Code: ISO 18004 và hơn thế nữa

QR Code Standards: ISO 18004 and Beyond

QR codes are governed by multiple international standards that ensure interoperability across devices, software, and industries. Understanding these standards helps when specifying QR codes for regulated or enterprise applications.

ISO/IEC 18004: The Core Standard

The primary QR code specification is ISO/IEC 18004, first published in 2000 and most recently revised in 2024. It defines:

• Symbol structure and versions 1-40
• Encoding modes (Numeric, Alphanumeric, Byte, Kanji, ECI)
• Error correction (Reed-Solomon, levels L/M/Q/H)
• Mask patterns and penalty scoring
• Module placement rules and format/version information

This standard covers standard QR codes and Micro QR codes.

JIS X 0510

The original Japanese Industrial Standard for QR codes, published in 1999. ISO/IEC 18004 was based on JIS X 0510. While ISO 18004 is now the global reference, JIS X 0510 remains relevant in Japanese regulatory contexts.

ISO/IEC 23941: rMQR

Published in 2022, this standard defines Rectangular Micro QR (rMQR) codes for narrow-space applications. It specifies the unique rectangular form factor, finder sub-pattern, and version sizes.

GS1 Digital Link

GS1 Digital Link is a standard for encoding product identifiers (GTIN, GLN, SSCC) into QR codes as web URLs. A single QR code can be scanned at point-of-sale for product lookup and by consumers for product information. The URL format follows:

https://id.gs1.org/01/09506000137209

This is becoming the bridge between traditional retail barcodes and QR codes.

EMV QR Code Specification

The EMV Co. specification standardises QR codes for payment transactions. It defines two variants:

• Consumer-Presented Mode (CPM): The consumer displays a QR code for the merchant to scan
• Merchant-Presented Mode (MPM): The merchant displays a QR code for the consumer to scan

Widely adopted by payment systems including Alipay, WeChat Pay, and India's UPI.

ISO/IEC 15415: Print Quality

This standard defines quality grading for 2D symbols including QR codes. It specifies testing methodology for print quality: decode, symbol contrast, modulation, fixed pattern damage, and other quality parameters.

Industry-Specific Standards

Key Takeaways

• ISO/IEC 18004 is the core standard governing all QR code symbology
• GS1 Digital Link bridges QR codes and traditional retail scanning
• EMV QR standardises payment QR codes worldwide
• ISO/IEC 15415 defines print quality grading methodology
• Industry-specific standards layer on top of ISO 18004 for regulated sectors