QR Code Generator

Enter text or a URL to generate a QR code. Customize size, colors, and error correction level.

Input
Preview
QR code will appear here
Enter text or a URL and click "Generate QR Code".

How to Use the QR Code Generator

  1. Enter your content — type or paste text, a URL, email address, phone number, or any data you want to encode.
  2. Choose error correction — L (7%), M (15%), Q (25%), or H (30%). Higher levels make the code more resilient but larger.
  3. Customize appearance — adjust the size, foreground color, and background color to match your brand.
  4. Generate and download — click "Generate QR Code", then download as PNG (raster) or SVG (vector).

Understanding QR Codes

QR codes (Quick Response codes) were invented in 1994 by Denso Wave for tracking automotive parts. They have since become ubiquitous in marketing, payments, authentication, and information sharing. A QR code encodes data in a grid of black and white modules (squares), which can be read by any smartphone camera or QR reader app.

Error Correction Levels

QR codes include Reed-Solomon error correction that allows the code to be read even if part of it is damaged or obscured. There are four levels:

  • Level L (Low) — 7% of data can be restored. Smallest code size.
  • Level M (Medium) — 15% of data can be restored. Good default balance.
  • Level Q (Quartile) — 25% of data can be restored. Recommended when code might be partially covered.
  • Level H (High) — 30% of data can be restored. Best for codes with logos overlaid on top.

QR Code Versions

QR codes come in 40 versions, from Version 1 (21x21 modules) to Version 40 (177x177 modules). The version is automatically selected based on the amount of data and the error correction level. Shorter content produces smaller, faster-to-scan codes. For URLs, consider using a URL shortener to keep the code compact.

Best Practices

  • Keep it short — shorter data means a smaller, more scannable QR code
  • Test before printing — always scan the generated code with your phone before distributing
  • Maintain contrast — dark foreground on light background works best for scanners
  • Add a quiet zone — leave white space around the QR code for reliable scanning
  • Use SVG for print — SVG scales to any size without losing quality

Common Use Cases

QR codes are used for website links, Wi-Fi credentials, contact cards (vCard), event tickets, restaurant menus, payment links, app downloads, and authentication (two-factor auth). This generator handles all text-based content, making it versatile for any use case.

QR Code Scanning

Most modern smartphones can scan QR codes directly from their camera app without needing a separate QR reader. On iOS, simply open the Camera app and point it at the QR code — a notification will appear with the encoded content. On Android, Google Lens is built into most camera apps and handles QR scanning. For desktop, browser extensions or dedicated apps can scan QR codes from images or screenshots.

Privacy and Security

This QR code generator runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server, no API calls are made, and no information is logged. The complete QR encoding algorithm — including data encoding, error correction with Reed-Solomon codes, matrix construction, and masking — runs in JavaScript on your device. This means you can safely generate QR codes containing sensitive information like Wi-Fi passwords or private URLs without worrying about data exposure. Add tracking to your QR code URLs with our UTM Builder, create professional signatures with the Email Signature generator, or design brand assets with the Favicon Generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

A QR (Quick Response) code is a two-dimensional barcode that can store text, URLs, contact information, and other data. It can be scanned by smartphone cameras and QR reader apps to quickly access the encoded content.
Error correction allows a QR code to remain scannable even if part of it is damaged or obscured. Level L recovers 7% of data, M recovers 15%, Q recovers 25%, and H recovers 30%. Higher levels make the QR code larger but more resilient.
No. The QR code is generated entirely in your browser using JavaScript and the Canvas API. Your text or URL never leaves your device.
A QR code can hold up to approximately 4,296 alphanumeric characters or 2,953 bytes of data at the lowest error correction level. In practice, shorter content produces smaller, more easily scannable codes.
Use PNG for sharing digitally, embedding in documents, or printing at a known size. Use SVG for print materials where you need the QR code to scale to any size without losing quality. SVG files are also smaller in file size.