What is a QR code?
- A QR code is a 2D barcode that stores text, links or other data, readable by any smartphone camera.
- Originally invented in 1994 for tracking car parts, QR codes are now used everywhere: payments, menus, ticketing, marketing.
- Higher error correction levels make the code more reliable when partially damaged or covered.
When to use which error correction level
Low (7%): small physical sizes, simple use, perfect printing conditions.
Medium (15%): the default, works well for most digital and printed uses.
High (30%): outdoor signs, stickers that may peel, or codes with a logo overlay.
Static vs. dynamic QR codes
This tool generates a static QR code — the data is encoded directly into the pattern, so it works forever with no service behind it, but the destination can't be changed after printing. Dynamic QR codes instead point to a short redirect link that you can repoint later, usually through a paid service, which also adds scan tracking. For a one-off flyer or business card, static is simpler and has no ongoing dependency; for anything printed in bulk where the link might need to change, dynamic is worth the trade-off.
Design tips before you print
Keep a quiet zone — a plain border with no other content — around the code; scanners use it to find the edges. Test a printed copy at its actual final size before running a full batch, since a code that scans fine on a screen can fail at business-card size. And always test with more than one phone; camera quality and QR-reading behavior vary between devices.
The most common reason a branded QR code fails
Light gray on white, or pastel colors matched to a brand palette, might look better in a mockup, but low contrast between the foreground and background is one of the most common reasons a QR code won't scan — scanners rely on a clear boundary between the two, not just human-readable aesthetics. If you're customizing colors, keep the contrast strong and test the actual printed result before finalizing, the same way you'd check contrast for body text.
Shorter data makes a simpler, more reliable code
A QR code can technically hold thousands of characters, but more data means a denser pattern of smaller squares, which needs a larger printed size to stay scannable. A long tracking URL with dozens of parameters produces a noticeably busier code than a short link pointing to the same destination. If you're encoding a URL and scannability at a small size matters — a business card, a product label — shortening the link first keeps the code simpler and more forgiving of imperfect lighting, printing, or camera quality.