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Guides / QR codes

QR code types explained

A QR code is only as useful as the payload inside it. Pick the right type before you print.

Use the free QR generator to build a code in the browser, then download PNG or SVG. Below is how each payload type behaves when someone scans it.

URL

The most common use: open a website, menu, ticket page, or product sheet. Include https:// so phones treat it as a link, not plain text. Short, stable URLs scan faster and survive print damage better than very long tracking links.

Plain text

Use text when you want the scanner to show a message rather than open an app action — for example a locker code, a one-line instruction, or a serial number. Keep it short. Dense text makes a busier QR pattern that is harder to scan from a distance.

Email, phone, and SMS

These types use standard URI schemes: mailto:, tel:, and sms:. After a scan, the phone usually offers to compose a mail, start a call, or open Messages with the number (and optional body) filled in. Test on both iOS and Android; SMS query syntax can differ slightly between manufacturers.

Print and contrast tips

  • Leave a quiet margin around the code (this tool's margin control).
  • Print at least about 2 cm × 2 cm for handheld scanning; larger for posters.
  • Do not stretch a PNG out of proportion. SVG scales cleanly for print.
  • Matte paper beats glossy paper under overhead lights.

Need Wi-Fi or a contact card instead? See Wi-Fi QR and vCard QR. For restaurant menus and parcel labels, see industry use cases.

FAQ

Do I need an app to scan a QR code?

Most modern iPhone and Android cameras open QR codes without a separate app. Point the camera at the code and tap the notification. Older phones may need a scanner app.

Can I change colours?

Yes. Keep strong contrast: dark modules on a light background scan more reliably than light-on-dark or low-contrast palettes. Avoid putting important data only in very small sizes.

Is a QR code the same as a barcode?

No. A QR code is a 2D matrix that stores more data (a URL, vCard, or Wi-Fi string). A barcode like Code 128 or EAN-13 is a 1D pattern of bars, typically a product or inventory number.