Generate a QR code from any URL or text instantly. Download as SVG for printing or sharing.
QR (Quick Response) codes are 2D barcodes invented by Denso Wave in 1994. They can store URLs, text, contact info, and more. Smartphones can scan them using the camera with no app required on iOS since 2017 and on Android since 2018.
QR codes can hold up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters or 7,089 numeric characters. More data = denser, harder-to-scan code. For URLs, keep links short (use a URL shortener) so the QR code stays clean and scannable from a distance.
QR codes have built-in error correction. Level L (7%) allows minor damage. Level M (15%) is the standard. Level Q (25%) is used for industrial printing. Level H (30%) is for the highest tolerance, used when part of the QR code might be obscured or damaged.
A long URL (like a Google Maps link or UTM-tagged marketing URL) creates a dense, hard-to-scan QR code. Running it through a URL shortener first (bit.ly, tinyurl.com, or a custom domain shortener) dramatically simplifies the QR pattern.
For reliable scanning, print QR codes at a minimum of 2cm × 2cm (about 0.8 inches). Larger is better for scanning at distance. Maintain a quiet zone (white border) of at least 4 modules (small squares) around all four sides.
QR codes can be used for phishing. A sticker placed over a legitimate code redirects to a malicious site. Always check the URL preview in your camera app before tapping. Be especially cautious with QR codes in public places like parking meters and restaurants.
Generate a QR code from any URL or text. The code updates instantly as you type and can be downloaded as a high-quality SVG for printing or sharing at any size.
A website URL: https://example.com
A clean, scannable QR code — point your phone camera at the screen to test it
A plain text message: Call us on 01234 567890
QR code that displays the text when scanned
Wi-Fi credentials: WIFI:S:NetworkName;T:WPA;P:password;;
Allows phones to join a Wi-Fi network instantly by scanning
QR codes were invented in 1994 by Masahiro Hara at Denso Wave, a Toyota subsidiary, to track automotive parts during manufacturing. They were designed to be scanned at high speed — QR stands for Quick Response. After a decade of slow consumer adoption, QR codes became universally used during the COVID-19 pandemic when contactless menus and check-ins made them a daily part of life worldwide.
A QR code can encode a web address, short text, contact details, an email address, or other supported data. Keep the content concise: longer text creates a denser code that is harder to scan. For changing information, encode a stable web link and update the page behind it instead of printing a new code every time.
Leave clear blank space around the code, use strong contrast, and print it large enough for the expected scanning distance. Avoid stretching, covering, or decorating the finder squares. Test the final printed or displayed version with several phones, in the lighting and position where real visitors will use it.
The graphic itself does not expire, but a link can become unavailable, a domain can lapse, or a contact detail can change. QR codes are not automatically editable unless they point to a service or page you control. Check the destination regularly, especially on packaging, posters, menus, and other materials that remain in public use.
Scan the final code from the printed or displayed version, not only from the generator preview. Test several phones at the expected distance, angle, and lighting, then confirm that the destination content loads and is usable on mobile. Recheck the code after resizing, applying branding, or changing the linked page.