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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