A machine readable code, a code encoding method and device and a code decoding method and device are provided. This machine readable code includes a data area (11) made up of at least one data cell, in which different colors or shades are encoded and expressed depending on the content of the information. Various types of information can be expressed in a code image using colors, shades, shapes and/or pattens according to the present invention. The code system according to the present invention enables to encode more diversified and voluminous information compared to the other codes of the prior arts. |