Weekly consumer searches for "QR Code" topic on Google in the UK 2018-2023

United Kingdom Google search behavior on the topic of QR codes peaked in September 2020, with interest in the topic being far lower in early 2023. QR codes have different utilities, but in this context mainly concern contactless (tap to pay) payments with smartphones or wearable devices. The UK, however, boasted a relatively high debit card penetration rate before the coronavirus pandemic - which many believe was the main catalyst for interest in the technology. Domestic transaction figures for QR payments are difficult to find, making it difficult to compare QR against debit cards in the country. Most figures on the topic come from consumer surveys, and focus on the share of respondents who used such a payment method or not.