As I understand it, The key bits of data are in the QR code, they are just encoded as a URL - a highly structured URL that point of sale systems can decode without visiting the URL.
Doing it this way means the QR code is directly usable by consumers to get to a product info / marketing page, and directly usable by the POS systems.
This is correct. The canonical reference is: <a href="https://ref.gs1.org/standards/digital-link/uri-syntax/" rel="nofollow">https://ref.gs1.org/standards/digital-link/uri-syntax/
I am irrationally annoyed that this isn't <a href="https://ref.gs1.org/17/382834828282/21/28312384021" rel="nofollow">https://ref.gs1.org/17/382834828282/21/28312384021
byte-sized-snac · · focus · HN ↗
Surely the actual data will be stored in the QR code and available offline
kiallmacinnes · · focus · HN ↗
Doing it this way means the QR code is directly usable by consumers to get to a product info / marketing page, and directly usable by the POS systems.
Edit: I looked it up. An example URL:
<a href="https://example.com/01/09521207311511/21/1234ABDE1235" rel="nofollow">https://example.com/01/09521207311511/21/1234ABDE1235
01 is a marker before the traditional barcode.
21 is a marker before the serial number.
There seems to be many other codes like 17 (expiry date) and 10 (batch number).
alex_suzuki · · focus · HN ↗
adastra22 · · focus · HN ↗
fragmede · · focus · HN ↗