Server

A server is a computer that provides services and data to other computers (clients) over a network. In the QR code context, servers managing dynamic QR code redirects and storing scan analytics data play critical roles.

Dynamic QR codes route through a server that redirects to the final destination. If this server goes down, all dynamic QR codes stop working. Commercial QR management services typically guarantee 99.9%+ uptime, but this still allows roughly 8.7 hours of annual downtime. Mission-critical applications (healthcare, payments) require server redundancy and failover design.

Static QR codes have no server dependency - they store the final URL directly. For long-lived printed materials where server dependency risk is unacceptable, static QR codes are the better choice. Dynamic QR codes are chosen when scan tracking or link changes are needed.