I’ve been reading about how QR codes work and their ability to store data using different patterns of black-and-white modules. It got me thinking—since QR codes rely on permutations and combinations of these shapes, is it theoretically possible to create an infinite number of unique QR codes, or are there limits to how many can be generated?
Yes, we can create an almost infinite number of QR Codes due to their vast encoding capacity. A standard QR Code can store up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters, allowing for trillions of unique combinations. The likelihood of running out is negligible, as the variations far exceed global demand.
Technically, it’s possible, but practically, we’ll never run out. A standard QR Code allows 23,624 bits of data, creating 2²³⁶²⁴ unique combinations. To put that in perspective, even if every person on Earth generated millions of QR Codes daily, we wouldn’t come close to exhausting the possibilities. The sheer scale of potential combinations is incomprehensibly vast, ensuring we’ll never run short