Readable paths in QR codes: qr.yourcompany.com/menu instead of random strings

With a dynamic QR code on your own subdomain, you decide not only the domain name but also the path behind it. Should the address be qr.yourcompany.com/menu or qr.yourcompany.com/k7x2m9qp4a? Technically both work the same. The difference only shows up in everyday use.

Two kinds of paths

• Readable path: one or two words that say where it leads, such as /menu or /contact.
• Random path: a string the service generates, for example 10 characters long at Same-QR.

What speaks for a readable path

• Anyone who sees the link knows in advance what to expect. That lowers the hesitation to scan, especially for QR codes in public places.
• The path can be typed by hand if someone cannot scan the code.
• You recognise your codes in lists and reports at once, without looking them up.
• In flyers, emails or on a business card, you can also give the link as plain text.

What speaks against it

• The path is fixed once printed. You cannot rename it afterwards, only change the destination behind it.
• Each path exists only once per domain. It stays taken even if you delete the code. A deleted /menu is not free again.
• Someone who knows /menu may try /drinks or /food. So do not put anything under a path that not everyone may see.
• A word makes a promise. If /offer later points to an old page, it looks worse than a neutral random path.

Five rules for good paths

• Short: one word, two at most. Long paths make the QR code denser and harder to read.
• Lowercase: mixing upper and lower case leads to typos when someone copies the link by hand.
• No special characters: stick to letters, digits and hyphens, and write /cafe rather than /café.
• No dates or promotions: /summer-2026 or /autumn-deal go stale while the printed code stays. Choose /menu rather than /summer-menu.
• Describe the function, not the destination: /menu stays right even if the menu later lives on a different page.

When a random path is the better choice

For one-off promotions, numbered table stands or material nobody should type in, a random path is perfectly fine. It reveals nothing, cannot be guessed and does not block a nice name for later. Many businesses mix both: readable paths for lasting things like menu, contact or reviews, random paths for the rest.

How to choose the path when creating a code

When you create a new code in Same-QR, you first choose the address, either sameqr.com/r/… or your connected domain. Then you enter the path yourself or let it be generated at random. Existing codes keep their address, since they are long printed. Scans are counted as usual, and time rules apply unchanged. A custom domain is not part of every plan, you can find the overview in the plan details.

Paths survive a change of provider

The domain is yours. If you switch providers later, you change the CNAME. Your printed codes keep working, provided the new provider can serve the same paths on your domain. One more reason to keep paths simple and lasting.

Frequently asked questions