Glossary
Short URL
A short URL is a brief address that redirects to a longer one. In QR codes it is used to reduce payload length — which genuinely produces a coarser, more scannable code — at the cost of adding a permanent dependency.
The real benefit
Payload length drives version, and version drives how small each module gets at a given printed size.
| URL | Length | Version at EC M | Modules |
|---|---|---|---|
example.com/spring-sale-2026?utm_source=poster&utm_medium=print&utm_campaign=spring |
82 | 7 | 45 × 45 |
exmpl.co/s26 |
13 | 2 | 25 × 25 |
That is a meaningfully more forgiving code.
The real cost
Every redirect is a dependency. If the shortener shuts down, is blocked by a corporate DNS filter, or gets flagged for abuse by another user of the same domain, your printed code stops working — and you cannot reprint what is already in the world.
The rule
Use a shortener on a domain you own. Do not use a public one for anything printed. For a poster with a six-week life, the risk is small; for packaging with a five-year life, it is not.
Related
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