QR Code Generator

What a QR code actually is

A QR ("quick response") code is a two-dimensional barcode that stores text as a small grid of black and white squares. Unlike a plain barcode, which holds a short string in one line, a QR code packs a few hundred to a few thousand characters into a square, with error correction so that scanners can still read it when the print is smudged, folded or partly covered by a logo.

This generator runs entirely in your browser: the code is calculated on your device with JavaScript, so the link, phone number or Wi-Fi password you type never leaves your computer.

Choosing the content type

• Text / URL — the everyday case. Full URLs (starting with `https://`) scan most reliably, and route the scanner straight to a browser.
• Wi-Fi — produces the standard `WIFI:` payload. Guests scan it and join the network without you dictating a password. The password is embedded in plain text inside the code, so only print it for networks you are happy to share.
• Email — builds a `mailto:` link with an optional pre-filled subject, useful on posters and business cards.
• SMS — opens the messaging app with the recipient pre-filled.
• Phone — a `tel:` link, ideal for shop windows and flyers where a tap-to-call saves typing.

Error correction levels

QR codes carry redundant data so damaged codes still decode. Higher redundancy means a denser code for the same text:

• L (~7%) — smallest grid, best for clean digital screens.
• M (~15%) — the sensible default for most print and web use.
• Q (~25%) — good when the code will be printed small or on a background.
• H (~30%) — the toughest; use it when you plan to place a logo over the middle, print on fabric, or laminate the code.

Size, margin and contrast

• The quiet zone — the empty border around the code — is part of the specification. Never crop it to zero when printing; keep at least 4 modules.
• Export as SVG for printing, signage and anything that will be resized: vectors stay sharp at any dimension, from a business card to a billboard.
• Export as PNG for websites, slides and chat apps.
• Keep dark modules on a light background. Inverted codes (light on dark) are unreadable for many older scanners, and a very low-contrast pair such as yellow on white may fail in dim light.

Practical tips

• Shorter data makes a less dense code, and a less dense code scans faster. Use a link shortener for long URLs.
• Test the printed code with at least two different phones before you print a whole batch.
• Do not stretch a QR code out of proportion — always scale width and height together.
• A QR code does not expire and needs no server: the data is inside the image itself. What can expire is a redirect on a shortened link, not the code.

Privacy

No upload, no account, no tracking pixel. The matrix you see is computed locally with JavaScript.

FAQ

Do these QR codes expire?

No. The data is encoded inside the image itself and needs no server, so the code works forever. Only the destination can change — for example if you shorten a link and the shortener later shuts down.

Are my links or Wi-Fi passwords uploaded?

No. The QR matrix is computed by JavaScript on your own device; nothing is sent to a server, stored or logged. One caveat: a Wi-Fi QR code stores the password in readable text inside the pattern, so only share networks you are happy to expose.

Why is my code so dense, and how do I make it simpler?

Density comes from the amount of data plus the error correction level. Shorten the URL, drop to level L or M, and the code becomes noticeably easier to scan.

Should I use PNG or SVG?

SVG for anything printed or resized — it is vector and stays razor sharp. PNG when you need a plain image for a website, slide deck or messaging app.