What is a QR code and what can you put in one?
A QR code (short for Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional (2D) barcode that stores information in a square grid of black and white modules. Unlike a traditional 1D barcode, which encodes data in the widths of vertical lines and holds only a short number, a QR code stores data across both the horizontal and vertical axes. That extra dimension lets it hold far more information — from a short web address to hundreds of characters of text — while still being readable in a fraction of a second by any smartphone camera.
The most common use is to encode a URL so that scanning the code opens a website, but QR codes are versatile. You can encode a plain text note, contact details, a Wi-Fi network name and password so guests can join without typing, an email address, a phone number, or a payment link. This generator takes whatever text or URL you enter and produces a scannable QR code from it directly in your browser. As soon as you type, the code updates, and when you are happy with it you can download it as a PNG to print on a flyer, poster, business card, product label, or menu.
Every QR code includes built-in error correction using Reed-Solomon codes. This means a portion of the data is stored redundantly, so the code can still be read correctly even if part of it is dirty, scratched, partially covered, or printed with a small logo in the middle. Higher error-correction levels add more redundancy at the cost of a denser code, which is why codes with a logo overlaid still scan reliably.
Tips for QR codes that scan reliably
For a QR code to scan quickly, keep it high-contrast — classic dark modules on a light background work best, and most scanners expect a dark-on-light code. Preserve the quiet zone, the empty margin around the code, because scanners rely on that clear border to locate the pattern. When printing, make sure the code is large enough for the scanning distance: a code on a poster viewed from across a room needs to be far bigger than one on a business card held in the hand.
Because a PNG is a lossless raster image, the file you download stays crisp when placed into design software, and you can scale it up for large-format printing without the fuzzy edges you would get from a compressed JPG. Always test the printed or on-screen result with a couple of different phones before you distribute it widely, since a code that scans on your device should also work on others but real-world lighting and camera quality vary.
Everything happens locally in your browser, so the data you encode — which may include private Wi-Fi passwords or internal links — is never sent to a server. There is no account to create, no watermark added to your code, and no expiry: the QR code you download is a static image that will keep working for as long as the destination it points to remains valid. If you need the code to point somewhere that might change later, encode a link you control and update the page it leads to rather than the code itself.