How a QR code works
A QR code is a grid of dark and light squares called modules. Your text is converted to bytes, error correction data is added, and the result is painted into the grid along with the three large corner squares that tell a camera where the code is and which way up it sits. Grids come in 40 sizes called versions: version 1 is 21 modules per side, and each version adds 4 more, up to 177 × 177. The tool picks the smallest version that fits your text, which is why short links give big, chunky squares and long ones give a fine mesh.
This generator uses medium (M) error correction, meaning roughly 15% of the code can be damaged, smudged or covered and it will still scan. That redundancy is why codes survive folded leaflets and scratched posters.
Worked examples
Getting a code that scans first time
- Keep the link short. Fewer characters means a smaller version, bigger squares and easier scanning. Tidy the URL before you paste it.
- Mind the contrast. Dark modules on a light background scan best. Avoid printing on busy photos or dark paper.
- Protect the quiet zone. The blank border around the code is part of the design. Do not crop it or butt text right up against it.
- Size for the distance. A rough rule of thumb: the printed code should be at least a tenth of the scanning distance. A poster read from 2 metres wants a code around 20 cm wide; a leaflet in the hand is fine at 2 cm.
- Test before printing. Scan it with a couple of phones from the distance people will actually use.
What people put in them
Menus, event pages, review links, portfolio and CV links on business cards, parcel return instructions, sign-up forms, and plain text for things like serial numbers or reference codes. The download gives you a white background and the quiet zone already included, in your choice of format: PNG for documents and slides, JPG where a smaller file matters more than perfect edges, or SVG, a vector that stays razor sharp at any print size. Set the pixel size anywhere from 128 to 4096 to match your layout. If you need hundreds of codes at once, the bulk QR code generator linked below builds them all into one ZIP.
Because the code is generated entirely in your browser and nothing is uploaded, it is also safe to encode private links, such as an unlisted video or an internal document. There is no shortener or tracking service in the middle: the code contains your text and nothing else.
QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.
Frequently asked questions
Do QR codes made here expire?
No. The code is a static picture that encodes your text directly, with no shortening service in the middle, so it works for as long as whatever it points at still exists. There are no scan limits and nothing to renew.
Can I use the codes commercially?
Yes. Codes you generate are yours to print on menus, packaging, posters or anything else, free of charge. Note that QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED, which covers use of the name rather than your right to make and use the codes.
How much text fits in a QR code?
Up to a few thousand characters, but the more you pack in, the denser and harder to scan the code becomes. For links, shorter is better: a tidy URL produces a coarse, forgiving pattern that scans first time from further away.
Why will my code not scan?
The usual culprits are printing it too small for the scanning distance, weak contrast between the code and its background, or cramming in a very long URL. Export it at a larger pixel size, keep dark modules on a light background, and test with a phone before you print.
Is my link or text uploaded anywhere?
No. The code is generated entirely in your browser and nothing is sent to a server, so it is safe to make codes for private links and internal documents.