Create Aztec codes for tickets and transit
Generate an Aztec 2D barcode for tickets and transit passes that scans cleanly even on a phone screen.
Create your barcode
ValidateWhen to choose Aztec over QR or PDF417
Aztec is the 2D barcode you have scanned without noticing, on a train ticket or a boarding pass. It is built for exactly that job: it needs no quiet zone around it, so it survives on cramped tickets and small phone screens where a QR code would need more breathing room, and its error correction holds up when a pass gets crumpled in a pocket. Reach for Aztec when the system reading it expects Aztec, which in practice means transport and event ticketing. For general consumer scanning, a QR code is the safer default.
Check the final file
Every code should be tested in the place where people will use it.
- Scan the downloaded image.
- Check the destination on a phone.
- Keep contrast and spacing easy to read.
If the first print feels uncertain, make one more proof.
Create an Aztec code
- Enter the data the scanner expects, whether that is a ticket reference, a short URL or an encoded record.
- Set the scale and height for the surface, whether that is a phone screen or a printed pass.
- Generate the code and check it renders as a square with a stepped bullseye at its center.
- Download the SVG for a print system or the PNG for an app or screen.
- Scan it with the device that will read it in production before you roll it out.
Where Aztec codes are used
- A rail ticket reference shown on a phone
- An event pass on a printed badge
- A transport voucher inside an email
Aztec data checks
- Aztec needs no surrounding quiet zone, which is exactly why it fits on tight tickets and small screens where a QR code struggles.
- Keep the payload lean. Aztec holds plenty, but a shorter token prints smaller and scans faster than a long URL.
- Aztec and QR are not interchangeable. Aztec has one central bullseye, QR has three corner squares, and a scanner set up for one may reject the other.
Aztec mistakes to avoid
- Choosing Aztec when the reading system only accepts QR or PDF417. Confirm what the scanner expects first.
- Encoding a long URL when a short reference token would do, which bloats the symbol needlessly.
- Printing it small without testing on the actual scanner and lighting it will face.
Aztec code questions
What is an Aztec code used for?
Mostly ticketing and transport: rail tickets, boarding passes, event entry. It is popular there because it needs no quiet zone and stays readable on a phone screen, so it fits where space is tight.
Why does Aztec not need a quiet zone?
Its finder pattern is the bullseye in the center rather than markers in the corners, so a scanner locates it from the inside out. That means it does not rely on a clear margin around the edges the way a QR code does.
Should I use Aztec or a QR code?
If the system reading the code specifies Aztec, as airline and rail systems often do, use Aztec. For general marketing, packaging or anything scanned by a phone camera app, a QR code is the safer choice because camera apps support it everywhere.
Can a phone camera scan an Aztec code?
Many ticket apps read Aztec, and some phone cameras do too, but support is less universal than for QR. The app doing the scanning has to understand Aztec, so always test with the exact app that will read it.
How much data fits in an Aztec code?
Up to roughly 3000 characters or 3800 digits at lower error correction. In practice you keep it far shorter, because a ticket reference or a short token scans faster and prints smaller than a long string.
Does Aztec have error correction?
Yes, and it is adjustable. Higher error correction lets the code survive a crease or a smudge on a well-handled ticket, at the cost of a slightly denser symbol. It is one reason transport operators favor the format.
Can I put a website link in an Aztec code?
You can, but only an app that supports Aztec will open it, and most general camera apps expect a QR code for links. If the goal is for anyone to scan and visit a URL, use the QR code generator instead.
More tools for tickets and 2D codes
Free Barcode Generator
Pick a barcode format, enter a value and download print-ready artwork with check digit validation.
PDF417 Barcode Generator
Create PDF417 barcodes for IDs, forms, shipping labels and document workflows.
Data Matrix Code Generator
Create Data Matrix codes for small parts, electronics and space-limited labels.
Barcode Scanner Online
Decode a barcode from a label, package or screenshot to check the value before it goes to print.