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QR Code Generator

Generate QR codes for URLs, text, Wi-Fi credentials and contact cards. Download as PNG or SVG.

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Frequently asked questions

Is my data uploaded to a server when I generate a QR code?
No. The entire QR code generation process happens inside your browser using JavaScript. Your URL, Wi-Fi password, or contact details are never transmitted over the network. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and the generator will still work.
Who invented QR codes and why?
QR codes were invented in 1994 by Masahiro Hara and his team at Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, to track automotive parts moving through manufacturing lines. Traditional barcodes could only store about 20 characters; a QR code could store a part number, manufacturing date, destination, and other metadata in a single scannable symbol. Denso Wave chose not to exercise its patent, making the technology freely usable by anyone.
What do the four error correction levels mean?
Level L recovers up to 7% damaged data and produces the smallest code. Level M (the default) recovers up to 15% and suits most printed and digital uses. Level Q recovers up to 25% and is good for textured or imperfect print surfaces. Level H recovers up to 30% and is used when codes will appear on curved surfaces, inside logos, or in harsh physical environments.
Should I download PNG or SVG?
Use PNG for digital sharing — emails, presentations, websites, and messaging apps. Use SVG for anything that will be printed or displayed at a range of sizes, because SVG is a vector format that scales to any resolution without pixelation. When in doubt for print, always choose SVG.
How much data can a QR code hold?
A QR code can hold up to 7,089 numeric digits, 4,296 alphanumeric characters, 2,953 bytes of binary data, or 1,817 Kanji characters. In practice, the more data you encode, the denser and smaller the modules become, which can make scanning harder. For best scan reliability, keep URLs short — consider a URL shortener for very long links.
Can I add a logo or image in the centre of the QR code?
Technically yes, because the QR code's error correction capability means a code set to Level H can have up to 30% of its surface obscured while still being readable. Many branded QR codes place a small logo in the centre. This tool does not currently support logo overlay, but any image editor can composite a logo onto the downloaded PNG or SVG after generation.
Why do QR codes sometimes fail to scan?
Common causes include insufficient contrast between the dark modules and the background, printing at too small a size (the code should be at least 2 × 2 cm for reliable phone scanning at arm's length), excessive glare on a glossy surface, and choosing too low an error correction level for a damaged or dirty print surface. For challenging environments, use Level Q or H.
What is the difference between a static and a dynamic QR code?
A static QR code directly encodes the destination data — changing it requires generating a new code. A dynamic QR code encodes a short redirect URL that points to a third-party service, which then forwards to the real destination. Dynamic codes allow you to change the destination without reprinting, and they typically offer scan analytics. This tool generates static codes, which have no tracking and no third-party dependency.
Can I generate a QR code for Wi-Fi login?
Yes. Select the Wi-Fi preset, enter the network name (SSID), password, and security type (WPA/WPA2 or WEP), and the tool encodes it in the standard WIFI: URI format that Android and iOS recognise. When someone scans the code with their phone camera, they get a prompt to join the network automatically without typing the password.
Are QR codes patented, or can I use them freely?
QR codes are free to use. Denso Wave holds patents on the QR code format but has explicitly chosen not to enforce them, stating publicly that the technology is open for anyone to implement and use without a licence fee. This deliberate decision, made at the time of invention in 1994, is a key reason QR codes became a global standard rather than a proprietary technology.

About QR Code Generator

A QR code (Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional matrix barcode that encodes data as a pattern of dark and light squares arranged on a grid. Unlike traditional one-dimensional barcodes that can only store a few dozen characters, a QR code can hold up to 3,000 bytes of binary data or nearly 7,000 numeric digits. The encoding uses Reed-Solomon error correction, which means a QR code can still be read even if up to 30% of its surface is obscured or damaged. Any modern smartphone camera can decode one in under a second without any third-party app.

QR codes appear in virtually every context where a physical-to-digital bridge is needed. Marketing campaigns embed them on posters, packaging, and business cards to link to websites or promotional videos. Restaurants replaced physical menus with QR codes during the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift that has largely persisted. Wi-Fi QR codes let guests connect to a network without typing a password. vCard QR codes share contact details with a single camera scan. Payment systems across Asia, South America, and increasingly Europe use QR codes as a universal payment initiation mechanism. Developers use them to transfer test URLs from a desktop browser to a mobile device instantly.

This tool generates QR codes entirely in your browser using a JavaScript implementation of the QR code specification. No data — not your URL, Wi-Fi password, or contact information — is sent to any server. The generated code appears as an inline canvas element and can be downloaded as a lossless PNG for documents and presentations, or as an SVG vector graphic for print materials where sharpness at any size matters. You can adjust the error correction level to trade off code density against scan reliability.

Error correction level is one of the most important settings to understand. Level L (Low, ~7% recovery) produces the smallest, densest code — ideal for digital displays where the code will be clean. Level M (Medium, ~15%) is the default and suits most use cases. Level Q (Quartile, ~25%) is recommended when printing on textured materials. Level H (High, ~30%) is ideal for codes that will be printed on curved surfaces, embedded in a logo, or likely to sustain physical wear. Higher correction adds more modules to the grid, making the code larger, so use the lowest level that meets your reliability requirements.

From Toyota's Assembly Line to Billions of Phone Scans: The QR Code Story

In the early 1990s, Denso Wave engineer Masahiro Hara faced a practical problem: the Toyota supply chain used conventional barcodes on every component, but each barcode held so little data that each part needed multiple labels scanned in sequence, slowing production lines. Hara's challenge was to invent a code that could be read ten times faster than a barcode. His team experimented with different shapes and patterns for two years before hitting on the square matrix design — reportedly inspired by the grid of a Go board. The three distinctive square finder patterns in the corners were chosen after analysing thousands of printed materials to find the ratio (1:1:3:1:1) that appeared least often in real-world imagery, ensuring reliable orientation detection.

Denso Wave announced the QR code in September 1994 and, in a decision that proved transformative for the technology's adoption, chose not to exercise its patent rights. The specification was published openly and the ISO standardised it as ISO/IEC 18004 in 2000. This openness allowed every smartphone manufacturer, app developer, and point-of-sale vendor to implement QR scanning without negotiating licences, which is directly responsible for the technology's global ubiquity.

The QR code's mainstream consumer adoption in Western markets came later than in Japan, where QR codes on cereal boxes and magazine ads were common by the mid-2000s. The tipping point in Europe and North America came during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, when restaurants, event venues, and public health authorities turned to contactless QR menus and check-in systems almost overnight. Global QR code scan volumes reportedly increased by over 400% between 2018 and 2022. Today the format is in its third decade and shows no sign of obsolescence, partly because its open standard means no vendor controls it and no licensing cost constrains its use.

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