miji.beQR code accessibility refers to the design practices that make QR codes usable for people with visual impairments, color vision deficiency, motor disabilities, or age-related vision decline.
Because QR codes are inherently visual, ensuring accessibility requires deliberate effort. The most fundamental measure is placing a text URL alongside every QR code. A screen reader cannot interpret the QR code image itself, so whether a text link sits alongside it decides whether the destination is reachable. Using a shortened URL keeps the fallback text easy to type manually.
Color vision deficiency affects roughly 5% of Japanese males (about 3 million people). When adding color to a QR code, avoid red-green combinations and rely on lightness contrast instead. The 4.5:1 figure in WCAG 2.1 is the criterion for text (1.4.3), while non-text graphics such as a QR code fall under 1.4.11 at 3:1; aiming for 4.5:1 anyway leaves margin for scanning.
Physical size is another accessibility factor. Older adults or users with limited dexterity may struggle to aim a phone camera precisely. The size a code needs depends on the scanning distance and the camera, but on printed materials around 3 cm square is a practical reference point, together with an adequate quiet zone (the blank margin around the code).
When embedding a QR code image on a web page, set the alt attribute to something like "QR code linking to [page name]" and place a conventional text link nearby. On printed materials, print the shortened URL in a large font next to the QR code so that users who cannot scan still have an access path.