Why QR Codes Are Useful (and Why You Should Use Them)

What a QR code actually is

QR stands for Quick Response. The format was invented in 1994 at Denso Wave, a Japanese automotive supplier, to track car parts faster than a regular barcode allowed. A traditional barcode stores data in one direction and holds around 20 characters. A QR code stores data in two directions, so it can hold thousands of characters in a small square.

The three large squares in the corners tell the scanner where the code is and which way is up. That is why a QR code scans at an angle, upside down, or from across a room.

Seven reasons QR codes are useful

The technology is old, but the benefits are practical and hard to beat with anything else.

• No app required. Every modern iPhone and Android phone scans QR codes with the built-in camera.
• No typing. A long URL, a Wi-Fi password or a full contact card is transferred without a single keystroke, so there are no typos.
• They make print interactive. A flyer, package or sign can lead to a video, a form, a map or a checkout page.
• They are free to make. A static QR code costs nothing to generate and nothing to keep using.
• They tolerate damage. Built-in error correction lets a code scan even when part of it is scratched, dirty or covered by a logo.
• They hold more than links. Plain text, email addresses, phone numbers, SMS messages, Wi-Fi credentials and contact details all fit.
• They are contactless. Nobody has to touch a shared menu, a kiosk or a pen.

Where QR codes work best

QR codes shine wherever someone is looking at a physical object and the next step is on a phone.

• Restaurants and cafes: menus, ordering and review requests on the table.
• Business cards: a scan saves your contact details or opens your portfolio.
• Packaging: setup guides, ingredients, warranty registration and reorder links.
• Events: tickets, schedules, check-in and speaker slides.
• Posters and flyers: sign-up forms, ticket sales and playlists.
• Guest Wi-Fi: visitors join the network without asking for the password.
• Payments and donations: a code on a counter or a collection box opens the payment page.
• Classrooms and museums: extra material, audio guides and translations next to the exhibit.

Why you should start using them

Every extra step between interest and action loses people. If a poster asks someone to remember a web address and type it in later, most never will. A QR code removes that step at the exact moment they are paying attention.

They are also cheap to test. Adding a code to something you already print costs nothing, and if you point it at a link with campaign parameters, your analytics will show how many visits came from that flyer, that table tent or that package.

Finally, a QR code does not have to look like a generic black-and-white square. Colors, rounded dots and a logo in the middle make the code part of your design, and a code that looks intentional gets scanned more readily than one that looks like an afterthought.

How to use QR codes well

A few habits separate codes that get scanned from codes that get ignored.

• Say what the scan does. A short label such as "Scan for the menu" beats a bare code.
• Link to a mobile-friendly page. The visitor is always on a phone.
• Keep strong contrast between the dots and the background.
• Print it large enough for the distance it will be scanned from.
• Test with more than one phone before you print a thousand copies.

Stay safe when scanning

A QR code is just a way to deliver a link, so treat it like any other link. Check the address your phone previews before you open it, and be wary of codes on stickers placed over an original code, especially on parking meters and payment terminals. When you publish your own codes, a visible, recognizable domain helps people trust the scan.

Frequently asked questions