The Quick Response code (or QR code) was introduced way back in 1994, but never really took off until decades later when the COVID-19 pandemic created a need for a quick, easy, and (most importantly) touch-free way of distributing information.
Scanning a QR code used to require an app, and can still be done with Google Lens if you prefer. But ever since version 8 (Oreo), the Android OS features a built-in QR scanner in its native camera app. Reading a QR code these days couldn’t be easier.