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QR Code & Barcode Guides

Practical guides for creating, scanning, reading, designing, printing, and troubleshooting QR codes and barcode formats.

Layered paper anatomy of a matrix code with corner targets and a scanning frame

Featured guide

What Is a QR Code and How Does It Work?

Learn what QR code means, how QR codes store data and error correction, how scanners read them, and how the symbol differs from its URL or destination.

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Workers applying and checking abstract product labels at a warehouse packing station

GS1 Barcode Guide: GTINs, Prefixes, Assignment, and Printing

Learn how GS1 GTINs, company prefixes and product identifiers are obtained, assigned, encoded, printed and verified—and what a barcode generator cannot provide.

Aug 7, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Cut-paper comparison of compact and wide inventory barcode labels

Code 128 vs Code 39 for Inventory Labels

Compare Code 128 and Code 39 barcode density, character sets, checks, scanner support and label width to choose the right inventory format.

Aug 5, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Paper packaging hierarchy from a single unit to a case and pallet

UPC vs EAN vs GTIN: What Is the Difference?

Understand the differences between UPC, EAN and GTIN, including GTIN-12, GTIN-13, UPC-A, EAN-13, check digits, ownership and product assignment.

Aug 3, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Editorial still life comparing a square matrix card with a linear barcode label and scanners

QR Code vs Barcode: Differences and Choosing the Right Format

Compare QR codes and barcodes by 1D or 2D structure, data capacity, scanner support, print size and use case to choose the right format.

Aug 1, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Cut-paper sample board of linear and two-dimensional barcode families

Types of Barcodes: Which Format Should You Use?

Compare 1D and 2D barcode types including UPC, EAN, Code 128, QR, Data Matrix, PDF417 and Aztec by capacity, size, scanner and use case.

Jul 30, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Warehouse worker scanning an abstract product label on a package

What Is a Barcode and How Does It Work?

Learn what a barcode is, what barcode numbers mean, how barcode scanners and readers decode symbols, and how UPC, EAN, 1D and 2D formats differ.

Jul 28, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Editorial still life comparing clean and weathered code cards with managed records

Do QR Codes Expire? Static and Dynamic Lifetimes Explained

Find out whether QR codes expire, why static QR codes can remain permanent, and how dynamic redirects, subscriptions, domains and printed materials can stop working.

Jul 26, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Cut-paper comparison of a direct QR path and a managed redirect path

Static vs Dynamic QR Code: Which Should You Use?

Compare static and dynamic QR codes by editing, scan tracking, analytics, cost, privacy, expiration, service dependency and long-term maintenance.

Jul 24, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Technical paper study of code samples at three sizes and scanning distances

QR Code Size Guide for Print and Scanning Distance

Choose the right QR code dimensions and minimum print size using scan distance, module density, quiet zone, DPI, material and final-production testing.

Jul 22, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Technical paper illustration of a high-contrast matrix with protected corners and quiet space

How to Make a QR Code Scannable: Design Best Practices

Learn QR code design best practices for reliable scanning, including size, contrast, quiet zones, finder patterns, logo placement, color and print testing.

Jul 20, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Person using an unbranded smartphone to scan an abstract code card at a cafe table

How to Scan a QR Code on Android

Scan and read QR codes on Android with the camera, Quick Settings, Google Lens, a saved screenshot or an online QR code reader, with troubleshooting steps.

Jul 18, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Person scanning an abstract code card beside a laptop and printed image

How to Scan a QR Code on a Phone, Screenshot, or Laptop

Learn how to scan, read and decode a QR code with a phone camera, from an image or screenshot, or on a laptop, plus safety and troubleshooting steps.

Jul 16, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Paper workflow showing content, generation, design, scan testing, and final output

How to Create a QR Code Free Online

Learn how to create and make a free QR code online for a URL or structured payload, customize it safely, download PNG or SVG and test the final code.

Jul 14, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team
Layered paper anatomy of a matrix code with corner targets and a scanning frame

What Is a QR Code and How Does It Work?

Learn what QR code means, how QR codes store data and error correction, how scanners read them, and how the symbol differs from its URL or destination.

Jul 12, 2026QRBarcode Editorial Team portraitQRBarcode Editorial Team