QR code and barcode guides
18 guides on choosing a code type, sizing it, printing it so it scans, and working out why one does not.
These are written to answer a decision, not to define a term. Each one ends at the tool that does the job, and every guide says which standard or specification a claim comes from so you can check it rather than take our word for it. How they are written and reviewed is set out in our editorial policy.
Start here
What a code actually is, and which kind you need before you generate anything.
QR Code Guide
The building blocks of a QR code, from finder patterns to error correction.
GuideStatic vs Dynamic QR Codes
What each type can and cannot do, and the trade-offs nobody mentions.
GuideBarcode Types Explained
Compare UPC, EAN, Code 128, Code 39, ITF-14, Codabar, MSI and Pharmacode.
GuideUPC vs EAN
How UPC-A and EAN-13 relate, and which one your product needs.
GuideCode 128 vs Code 39
Density, character sets and where each symbology still makes sense.
Size, print and test
The stage where most codes fail. Work through these before a print run, not after one.
QR Code Size Guide
Pick the right size for screen and print based on scan distance.
GuideQR Code Printing Guide
Print QR codes that scan reliably: contrast, quiet zone and materials.
GuideQR Code Error Correction
Understand L, M, Q and H levels and when to use each.
GuideHow to Test a QR Code
A repeatable test routine before you print thousands of copies.
GuideWhy Is My QR Code Not Working?
A checklist for QR codes that scan on screen but fail in the real world.
Retail, logistics and inventory
What a number means in a supply chain, and what a generated image does not give you.
GS1 Barcode Basics
GTINs, Application Identifiers and what GS1 membership actually covers.
GuideBarcodes for Product Labels
From choosing a symbology to printing a label that passes a scan test.
GuideBarcodes for Inventory
Set up Code 128 labels, SKUs and a scanner for small-business stock control.
GuideISBN Barcode Guide
Bookland EAN, the 978/979 prefixes and the optional price add-on.
Practical projects
Complete jobs, from choosing the code type to the thing on the table.
Wi-Fi QR Codes for Guests
Share your network in cafés, offices and rentals without spelling the password out.
GuideQR Code Menus for Restaurants
A menu code that survives menu changes, spills and dim lighting.
GuideQR Codes on Business Cards
vCard or link, how small the code can go, and where to place it.
GuideQR Code Safety Guide
How QR scams work and how to check a code before you act on it.