What Is a QR Code?
A QR (Quick Response) code is a two-dimensional barcode made up of a grid of black and white squares that a smartphone camera or scanner can read almost instantly. Unlike a traditional barcode, which stores a small string of numbers in a single line, a QR code can hold website links, plain text, contact details, WiFi credentials, and more, and it can be scanned from any angle. QR codes were originally developed in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave to track vehicle parts during manufacturing, and have since become common on packaging, menus, posters, and payment screens.
How Does a QR Code Work?
A QR code encodes data as a pattern of black and white modules arranged in a square grid. Three large squares in the corners, called finder patterns, let a scanner quickly detect the code and work out its orientation, even if the code is rotated, tilted, or viewed at an angle. The remaining modules store the actual data along with error correction information, which is what allows a QR code to still scan correctly even if part of it is smudged, torn, or covered.
When you generate a QR code with the tool above, your text or link is encoded directly into this pattern in your browser. When you scan a QR code, the camera captures the pattern and JavaScript in your browser decodes it back into the original text or link, all without sending anything to a server.
QR Code vs Barcode: What's the Difference?
| Feature | QR Code | Traditional Barcode |
|---|---|---|
| Data it can hold | Letters, numbers, symbols, and links | Mostly numbers |
| Storage capacity | Up to a few thousand characters | Usually under 20-30 digits |
| Scan direction | Any angle (two-dimensional) | Must be scanned in one direction (one-dimensional) |
| Damage tolerance | Can still scan if partly damaged, thanks to error correction | Little to no damage tolerance |
| Common uses | Links, WiFi sharing, contact info, payments, menus | Retail products, inventory, shipping labels |
How to Create a QR Code Online
Enter Your Content
Type a link, text, or any message.
Choose Size & Level
Pick a size and error correction level.
Download the Code
Save your QR code as a PNG image.
How to Scan a QR Code Online
Start Scanning
Switch to the Scan tab, tap Start Camera, or upload a photo of the code.
Point or Select
Hold the QR code in frame, or pick your image file.
Get the Result
The decoded text or link appears automatically.
Other Types of QR Codes You Can Create
The text box in the generator isn't limited to plain text or web links. Phones follow a few standard formats, so typing one of these into the same box creates a working WiFi, email, phone, or SMS QR code:
| QR code type | What to type |
|---|---|
| Website / URL | https://example.com |
| WiFi network | WIFI:T:WPA;S:YourNetworkName;P:YourPassword;; |
| Email address | mailto:name@example.com |
| Phone number | tel:+11234567890 |
| SMS / text message | smsto:+11234567890:Your message |
| Plain text | Any sentence, note, or message |
Static vs Dynamic QR Codes
| Feature | Static QR Code | Dynamic QR Code |
|---|---|---|
| Where the data lives | Encoded directly inside the QR code | Usually behind a short redirect link |
| Can the destination change? | No — you'd need a new code | Yes, the link can usually be updated later |
| Scan tracking | Not built in | Often available through the service managing it |
| Cost | Free to generate and free to use forever | Often requires a paid subscription to keep the redirect active |
| Best for | Permanent links, WiFi, contact info, printed materials that won't change | Marketing campaigns where the destination may need updates |
This tool generates static QR codes. That means the code itself never expires and never requires a subscription, though the underlying content (like a webpage) still needs to remain available for the code to be useful.
QR Code Error Correction Levels
Error correction adds redundant data to a QR code so it can still be read even if part of it is dirty, scratched, or obscured. Higher levels are more resilient but make the code slightly denser.
| Level | Recovery capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| L — Low | ~7% | Clean digital displays with low risk of damage |
| M — Medium (default) | ~15% | General everyday use |
| Q — Quartile | ~25% | Codes that may get scratched or partly covered |
| H — High | ~30% | Small printed codes or harsher outdoor/industrial conditions |
What Size Should Your QR Code Be?
The right size depends on how far away it will be scanned from. A QR code on a business card or a phone screen can stay compact since it's scanned up close. A code on a poster, storefront window, or billboard needs to be much larger, since it will typically be scanned from several feet or meters away. As a general rule, keep a quiet zone of empty space around the code and avoid stretching it unevenly, since both can make it harder for a camera to detect.
Where Can You Use QR Codes?
Business Cards
Share a website, portfolio, or contact details with a single scan.
Restaurants & Menus
Link customers straight to a digital menu instead of a printed one.
Marketing Materials
Add a scannable link to flyers, posters, or brochures.
Events
Share registration pages, tickets, or event details.
WiFi Sharing
Let guests join your WiFi network without typing a password.
Packaging & Products
Connect customers to instructions, warranty info, or product pages.
Social Media & Profiles
Point people to a social profile, portfolio, or landing page.
Signage & Storefronts
Direct passersby to a website, review page, or booking link.
Is It Safe to Scan an Unknown QR Code?
Scanning itself doesn't harm your device — a QR code is just encoded text. The risk comes from what you do with the result. If a scanned code decodes to a link, this tool shows you the full web address before you open it, so you can check it looks legitimate first, the same way you'd check any unfamiliar link before clicking it.
Does This Tool Store My Data?
No. The QR code generator runs entirely in your browser, so the text you type is never uploaded to a server. The scanner works the same way: your live camera feed and any image you upload are processed locally using JavaScript, and nothing is stored or transmitted anywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Both the generator and the scanner are free to use online, with no account or signup required and no limit on how many QR codes you create or scan.
No. This tool creates static QR codes that encode your text or link directly, so the code itself does not expire. It will keep working for as long as the content it points to, such as a website, still exists.
No signup or account is needed for either generating or scanning a QR code. Everything runs directly in your browser.
Medium is a good default for most uses. Choose a higher level like Quartile or High if the QR code will be printed small, placed outdoors, or might get partially covered or damaged, since higher levels keep it scannable even with some data loss.
No. QR codes are generated in your browser, and any camera feed or uploaded image used for scanning is processed locally as well. Nothing you type, scan, or upload is sent to or stored on a server.
Yes. Type
WIFI:T:WPA;S:YourNetworkName;P:YourPassword;;
into the text box, replacing the network
name and password, and the generator will
create a QR code that connects a phone to
that WiFi network when scanned.
Yes. Type mailto:name@example.com
for email, tel:+11234567890
for a phone call, or
smsto:+11234567890:Your message
for a text message, and the generator will
turn it into a scannable QR code.
A static QR code has the information encoded directly inside it and cannot be changed once created. A dynamic QR code usually points to a short redirect link that can be updated later, which normally requires a paid service to manage. This tool creates static QR codes.
Switch to the "Scan QR Code" tab on this page, tap "Start Camera," allow camera access, and point your camera at the QR code. It decodes automatically in your browser — no app install required.
On Android or iPhone, open this page in Chrome or Safari, switch to the "Scan QR Code" tab, tap "Start Camera," and allow camera permission when prompted. Hold the QR code steady in the frame and the result appears automatically.
Yes. On the "Scan QR Code" tab, use the "Upload Image" option to choose a photo or screenshot containing a QR code, and it will be scanned the same way as a live camera scan.
Camera access requires a secure (https) connection and your permission. If nothing happens, check that you allowed camera access when your browser asked, and that no other app or browser tab is currently using the camera.
Scanning is safe, but be cautious before acting on the result. If the decoded content is a link, review the web address before opening it, since QR codes can point to unsafe sites just like any other link.
A traditional barcode stores a small amount of data, usually numbers, in a single line that must be scanned from one direction. A QR code is two-dimensional, can hold far more data including letters and symbols, can be scanned from any angle, and can still be read even if part of it is damaged.
A larger size generally scans more reliably from a distance. Small printed items like business cards can use a compact code since it will be scanned up close, while posters, banners, or storefront signage should use a much larger code since it will typically be scanned from farther away.