The 8 Types of QR Codes and What They Store
Every QR code contains text — the type is just a convention that tells your phone what to do with that text. Here is what each one looks like decoded.
Open the QR decoderThe payloads, side by side
Website URL
https://example.com/menuThe most common type. Decoding reveals the real destination before you open it.
Plain text
Serial: A81-2290-KXAny text: coupon codes, serials, instructions, short notes.
Wi-Fi login
WIFI:T:WPA;S:CafeGuest;P:latte2026;;Network name, security type, and password. Treat these codes as a credential.
Contact card
BEGIN:VCARD…END:VCARDvCard or MeCard with name, phone, email, company, and address.
mailto:hi@example.com?subject=HelloOpens a pre-filled draft in the mail app.
Phone call
tel:+15551234567Dials a number. Verify it before calling a code you found in public.
SMS
SMSTO:+15551234567:Send me the menuPre-fills a text message, often used for opt-in campaigns.
Location
geo:48.8584,2.2945Latitude and longitude opened in a maps app.
Static vs. dynamic codes
A static code holds the final data forever — change the URL and you must reprint the code. A dynamic code holds a short redirect URL owned by a QR platform, so the destination can be changed and clicks can be tracked. When you decode a dynamic code you see the redirect domain, not the final page, which is why checking where a shortened link actually leads matters.
How much can one code hold?
At the largest version with the lowest error correction, a QR code stores up to 7,089 digits, 4,296 alphanumeric characters, or 2,953 bytes. In practice, keep the payload short: fewer characters mean bigger modules, and bigger modules scan reliably from further away and from worse photos.
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