LinkShrinks Blog
How QR Codes Work
A plain-language guide to QR codes: how they encode URLs, what happens when you scan one, and how businesses use them.
June 2, 2026 · 3 min read
A QR code (Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional barcode that stores information — usually a URL — in a pattern of black and white squares. Smartphone cameras read the pattern and open the encoded link in the browser.
Unlike traditional barcodes that hold a short product number, QR codes can store much more data, which makes them ideal for linking print materials to websites.
What happens when you scan a QR code
Your phone's camera app decodes the pattern and extracts the URL. The browser then loads that address. If the QR encodes a short link, the shortener redirects to the final destination — the same flow as clicking a short URL in a message.
Because the QR often points to a short link rather than the raw long URL, you can update the destination later without reprinting the code — as long as the short link itself stays active.
Best practices for QR codes
Use high contrast (dark code on light background), leave quiet zone padding around the code, and test scans at the size you plan to print. Link the QR to a mobile-friendly landing page.
With LinkShrinks Premium, you can download PNG QR codes for each short link and track scans as clicks in your analytics dashboard.
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