QR Code & Barcode Guides
Practical guides on QR codes and barcodes: how they work, print sizes, static vs dynamic codes, barcode types and how to get EAN and UPC numbers.
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QR code basics
What a QR code stores, how big to print it and how to design one people actually scan.
What Is a QR Code and How Does It Actually Work?
A QR code is a two-dimensional matrix barcode that stores data in a grid of dark and light modules. This guide explains its history, anatomy, versions, error correction, data modes and the payload formats phones understand.
7 min read
Static vs Dynamic QR Codes: Which One Do You Actually Need?
A static QR code stores your content directly in the pattern and works forever. A dynamic QR code stores a short redirect link, so you can change the destination and count scans, but it depends on the service staying online. This guide explains the trade-offs.
6 min read
QR Code Size Guide: How Big Should Your QR Code Be?
A QR code should be at least 2 × 2 cm (0.8 inch) for close-range scanning, and roughly one tenth of the scanning distance for anything further away. Shorter content, a clear margin and strong contrast all let you print smaller.
6 min read
QR Code Error Correction Levels: L, M, Q or H
Error correction lets a QR code still scan when part of it is dirty, torn or covered. Higher levels survive more damage but need more modules, so the right level depends on the print and whether a logo sits on top.
6 min read
QR Code Best Practices: Design Codes People Actually Scan
A good QR code is high contrast, has a clear margin, sits next to a call to action and leads to a fast, mobile-friendly page. This checklist covers design, content, placement, testing and safety.
7 min read
QR codes for specific jobs
Networks and contacts: the two codes people ask about most.
How to Create a Wi-Fi QR Code That Connects on the First Scan
A Wi-Fi QR code is plain text that tells a phone which network to join and what password to use. Getting the encryption type and a few special characters right is the difference between a code that connects instantly and one that silently fails.
7 min read
vCard QR Codes for Digital Business Cards
A vCard QR code holds your contact details inside the symbol itself, so a scan opens an "Add contact" card with no app, no account and no server in between. The craft is including what people use and leaving out what bloats the code.
6 min read
Barcodes and 2D codes
Symbology choices, legal product numbers and printing that survives the warehouse.
Barcode Types Explained: Which Format Should You Use?
Barcodes fall into two families: linear (1D) codes like EAN-13 and Code 128 that store a short number or ID, and 2D codes like QR and Data Matrix that store much more in a small square. The right one depends on who scans it and what it needs to hold.
8 min read
How to Get a Barcode for Your Product, Step by Step
To sell in shops and on most marketplaces you need a GTIN from GS1, then a barcode image of that number on your packaging. GS1 licenses the number; any generator, including this one, can create the artwork. Here is the whole process.
7 min read
Code 128 vs Code 39: Picking the Right Alphanumeric Barcode
Both carry letters and numbers, but Code 128 fits more data in less space and is the carrier of GS1 standards, while Code 39 is older, wider and still common in internal and industrial workflows.
6 min read
Data Matrix vs QR Code: Choosing the Right 2D Symbol
Both store the same kind of data, so the choice comes down to size, equipment and audience. Data Matrix wins on tiny industrial marks; QR wins when a consumer phone has to read the code.
6 min read
How to Print Barcodes That Scan the First Time
Most scan failures are printing failures. Getting bar width, contrast, material and quiet zone right matters more than which symbology you chose, and it is all decided before you hit print.
7 min read