SPARQCode
Type of barcode

A SPARQCode is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) encoding standard that is based on the physical QR Code definition created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave.
01Overview
The QR Code standard as defined by Denso-Wave in ISO/IEC 18004 covers the physical encoding method of a binary data stream. However, the Denso-Wave standard lacks an encoding standard for interpreting the data stream on the application layer for decoding URLs, phone numbers, and all other data types. NTT Docomo has established de facto standards for encoding some data types such as URLs, and contact information in Japan, but not all applications in other countries adhere to this convention as listed by the open-source project "zxing" for QR Code data types.

02Encoding standards
The SPARQCode encoding standard specifies a convention for the following encoding data types.
- E-mail address
- Phone Number
- SMS TEXT
- MAP
- URL
- BIZCARD
- MeCard
- vCard
- BlackBerry PIN
- Geographic information
- Google Play link
- Wifi Network config for Android
- YouTube URI
- iCalendar
The SPARQCode convention also recommends but does not require the inclusion of visual pictograms to denote the type of encoded data.
03License
The use of the SPARQCode is free of any license. The term SPARQCode itself is a trademark of MSKYNET, but has chosen to open it to be royalty-free.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “SPARQCode”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- SPARQCode-sample.gif by Jackedhacker, Public domain
- SPARQCode-pictograms.png by Jackedhacker, Public domain
Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.