The Complete Guide to QR Code Types
Technical & Use-Case Formats

QR Code Types — Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of QR codes?

QR codes split into two groups. Technical formats define how the data is encoded — Model 1, Model 2, Micro QR, rMQR, iQR, SQRC and Frame QR. Use-case types define what happens after the scan, and QRKIT builds 25 of them in Model 2: URL, vCard, Wi-Fi, PDF, file, event, text, social profile, link page and more.

Can I change a QR code after printing?

Static QR codes are permanent — once printed, the destination cannot be changed. Dynamic QR codes let you change the destination URL after printing, with no reprinting required. This makes dynamic QR codes ideal for marketing campaigns, printed signage, and any scenario where your destination may change.

What’s the difference between static and dynamic QR codes?

Static QR codes encode the destination URL directly into the barcode — it can’t be changed after creation. Dynamic QR codes use a short redirect URL that points to QRKIT’s servers, so you can change the final destination anytime. Dynamic QR codes also provide scan analytics — how many scans, when they happened, roughly where, and on what device. Scans are counted anonymously; a QR code cannot tell you who the person scanning it is.

What types of data can I embed in a QR code?

A QR code encodes text, so anything that fits in a string can go directly into the pattern: URLs, contact details (vCard), Wi-Fi credentials, email addresses, phone numbers, SMS messages, plain text, GPS coordinates and calendar events. Files are different — a PDF, image, video or audio track is never stored inside the code itself; the code carries a link to the hosted file.

Which QR code type should I use for my business?

It depends on the action you want after the scan. Use URL QR codes for marketing campaigns and websites, vCard QR codes for business cards and networking, Wi-Fi QR codes for venues and guest access, PDF or file QR codes for price lists, manuals and signage, event QR codes to drop a date straight into the scanner’s calendar, and link-page QR codes when one code needs to lead to several destinations. Choose the QR type that matches the action you want people to take after scanning.

How do I choose between Model 1, Model 2, and Micro QR codes?

Model 2 is the standard — use it for 99% of applications. It supports up to 7,089 numeric characters, error correction, and versions 1–40. Model 1 is outdated (released 1994) with limited capacity; avoid it for new QR codes. Micro QR is for tiny, space-constrained applications like jewelry or small labels where size matters more than data capacity, and not every phone camera decodes it. QRKIT generates Model 2 codes only — the format phone cameras read natively.

Can I use a QR code in my logo or branding?

Yes. QRKIT lets you drop your logo into the centre of the code, set custom foreground and background colours, and add a frame, so the code matches your branding. Codes are generated at error correction level Q — roughly 25% of the pattern is redundant, which is what lets the centre logo sit on top without breaking the scan. Use our custom QR code generator for full design control. The key is maintaining high contrast between foreground and background.

What’s the difference between a vCard QR and a URL QR linking to a contact page?

A vCard QR code carries your contact details — name, phone, email, address — so the person scanning saves them to their phone in a single tap, with no typing. A plain URL QR code pointing at a contact page just opens a web page they have to read and copy from. QRKIT’s vCard QR codes are dynamic: the code resolves to a hosted contact card with a one-tap save-contact button, which means you can correct a phone number or job title after the cards are printed. Use vCard for business cards and networking events.

Do I need internet to scan a QR code?

It depends on the QR code type. Anything that opens a web page needs a connection on the scanner’s phone — that covers every URL QR code, and every dynamic QR code, since a dynamic code redirects through QRKIT’s servers before it reaches your destination. QRKIT’s vCard, PDF, file and social QR codes are all dynamic, so they need a connection too. Static types work offline because the data sits in the pattern itself: plain text, SMS, email, calendar events and Wi-Fi. A Wi-Fi QR code hands the phone the network name and password with no connection of its own — whether that network then reaches the internet is a separate question.

What are the different types of QR code attacks and how do I protect myself?

Common QR code attacks include: (1) phishing QR codes that redirect to fake login pages, (2) malware QR codes that trigger malicious app downloads, and (3) counterfeit QR codes placed over legitimate ones. To protect yourself: only scan QR codes from trusted sources, verify the destination URL before tapping, look for HTTPS and official domains, and use security-aware QR generators like QRKIT that use HTTPS redirects.

What’s the difference between QR code versions and formats?

QR code versions (1–40) refer to the physical size of the code — Version 1 is 21×21 modules, Version 40 is 177×177 modules. Larger versions hold more data. QR code formats (Model 1, Model 2, Micro QR, iQR, etc.) refer to the technical standard that defines how data is encoded. All Model 2 QR codes use versions 1–40 — they vary in size and capacity but use the same encoding format. QRKIT automatically selects the smallest version that fits your data.

How many types of QR codes are there?

Seven formats are published by DENSO WAVE: Model 1, Model 2, Micro QR, rMQR, iQR, SQRC and Frame QR. Only three of them sit in ISO/IEC 18004 — Model 1, Model 2 and Micro QR; rMQR has its own standard, ISO/IEC 23941, and iQR, SQRC and Frame QR are proprietary DENSO WAVE variants. Model 2 accounts for the overwhelming majority of codes in use and is the only one every phone camera reads natively. Use-case types are a separate axis — what the code does when scanned — and there is no fixed number, because a new one exists whenever someone defines a new data payload; QRKIT builds 25. Versions 1 to 40 are a third axis again: they describe how big the code grid is, not what type it is.

How much data can a QR code hold?

It depends on the version, the encoding mode and the error correction level. The largest code, Version 40 at error correction level L, holds 7,089 numeric digits, 4,296 alphanumeric characters or 2,953 bytes. A small Version 4 code holds 78 bytes at level L and about 46 at level Q — roughly a short URL. Higher error correction trades capacity for damage tolerance: level H makes about 30% of the pattern recoverable but stores far less. In practice you rarely choose a version yourself; a generator picks the smallest one that fits your content.

How do I know what type of QR code I have?

Look at the finder patterns — the large squares. Three of them, one in each corner except the bottom right, means a standard Model 2 code. A single one means Micro QR. A rectangle rather than a square means rMQR or iQR. A logo or image inside the pattern usually means an ordinary Model 2 code generated at a high error correction level, not a different format. Static versus dynamic is the one thing you cannot see: scan the code and read the decoded text — a long destination means static, a short redirect on a generator's domain means dynamic.

Can I track analytics from static QR codes?

No — static QR codes have no built-in analytics because they encode the destination URL directly. To track scans, use dynamic QR codes. Dynamic QR codes redirect through QRKIT's servers, allowing you to see total scans, device types, locations, and timestamps via QRKIT's tracking dashboard. This is one of the key advantages of dynamic over static QR codes.