What is a URL QR code?
A URL QR code encodes a web address inside the image. When scanned, the phone opens the link in its default browser. Because the URL lives in the QR, there is no third-party redirect to fail or track users.
This is the simplest QR type and the most widely supported. Every modern phone handles it from the native camera.
Common uses
- Posters and flyers pointing to a landing page
- Restaurant menus and digital programmes
- Product packaging linking to instructions or support
- TV ads and out-of-home placements
- Slides and presentations during talks
How to create one
- Pick URL as the QR type.
- Paste the full address including https://. Without the protocol, some scanners treat it as plain text.
- Shorten long URLs first — the longer the link, the denser the QR.
- Style the QR to match your branding and add a logo if you want.
- Download SVG for print or PNG for digital placements.
Best practices
- Always include https:// so scanners open a browser instead of showing text.
- Use UTM parameters if you need attribution, instead of a tracking redirect.
- Mobile-friendly destinations only. A QR on a poster will be scanned on a phone.
- If you may need to change the destination later, use a dynamic QR service instead — qrgen makes static codes only.
- Pair the QR with a short visible URL so users can type it if scanning fails.
Test before printing
- Scan from a few feet away, not from arm's length. Posters are read at distance.
- Test in low light. The camera app needs more contrast in dim rooms.
- Confirm the page loads quickly on mobile data, not just Wi-Fi.
Static vs. dynamic URL QR codes
A static URL QR encodes the link directly. Anyone can decode it, and you cannot change where it points later. A dynamic QR encodes a short redirect URL that you control; you can update the destination, but the redirect server has to stay online forever.
qrgen makes static QR codes only. They are simpler, faster, and free of third-party dependency. If you need editable destinations, use a dynamic QR service.