QR Code Generator

About QR codes

What is a QR code?

A QR ("Quick Response") code is a 2D barcode that packs text — a URL, plain text, contact details, Wi-Fi credentials, and so on — into a grid of black and white squares that a camera can scan and decode almost instantly.

What does the error correction level do?

QR codes bake in redundancy so they still scan even if part of the code is dirty, scratched, or covered by a logo. Low tolerates about 7% damage, Medium about 15%, Quartile about 25%, and High about 30% — but higher levels need more space, so the same text produces a denser (or larger) code at higher levels.

Why is there a maximum text length?

The QR spec defines 40 fixed sizes ("versions"), from a 21×21 grid up to 177×177. Longer text needs a bigger version, and version 40 at the lowest error correction level (about 2,950 bytes) is the hard ceiling — beyond that, no valid QR code exists for the text.

How does the Wi-Fi network type work?

It builds the special WIFI: string phones recognize as a "join this network" prompt instead of plain text, so scanning connects automatically — no typing the password. That password is embedded directly in the code's data, visible to anyone who scans or decodes it, so share the image as carefully as you'd share the password itself.

How does the Contact card type work?

It builds a standard vCard — the same format phones export when you share a contact — so scanning prompts an "Add contact" screen instead of just showing text.

Google Maps link vs. geo: URI — which should I use for a location?

The Google Maps link is a normal https:// URL, so it reliably opens in a maps app or browser on any device — the better default for sharing directions. The geo: URI is the more "raw" coordinate format that specialized apps (geocaching apps, some GPS tools) expect instead of a web link — use it if your target app specifically wants that format.

Does this tool upload my data anywhere?

No. The QR code is generated entirely in your browser using the open-source qrcode library, bundled into this page — nothing you type is ever sent to a server.

Configuration options

Content type

Text/URL encodes exactly what you type. The other types (Wi-Fi, Contact, Email, Phone/SMS, Location) give you labeled fields and build the correctly formatted string for you, instead of you having to hand-type its special syntax.

Error correction level

Trade-off between damage tolerance and density — see the FAQ. Medium is a sensible default for most uses; use High if the code will be printed small or might get scuffed.

Foreground / Background color

Customize the code's colors. Keep strong contrast between them — low-contrast colors are the most common reason a QR code fails to scan.

Size

Target width and height in pixels for the generated image. Ignored for SVG output, which is resolution-independent and scales to whatever size you use it at.

Output format

PNG is a fixed-resolution raster image. SVG is vector markup that stays crisp at any size — better for print or for embedding directly in a web page.