QR Code Generator

Create custom QR codes for URLs, text, WiFi, contacts, and more. Customize colors and download in high resolution.

Website URL

Code Examples

// npm install qrcode
import QRCode from 'qrcode';

// Generate as data URL
const dataUrl = await QRCode.toDataURL('https://example.com');

// Generate as SVG string
const svg = await QRCode.toString('https://example.com', { type: 'svg' });

// Generate to canvas
await QRCode.toCanvas(document.getElementById('canvas'), 'text');

What is a QR Code?

A QR Code (Quick Response Code) is a two-dimensional barcode that can store much more information than traditional barcodes. Originally invented in 1994 by a Japanese company (Denso Wave) to track car parts, QR codes are now everywhere!

Why "Quick Response"? The name comes from its ability to be decoded quickly - up to 10x faster than traditional barcodes.

What can you store in a QR code?

URLs (most common)
WiFi credentials (auto-connect!)
Contact information (vCard)
Email addresses and messages
Phone numbers
Plain text
And much more...

How QR Codes Work

The Anatomy of a QR Code

┌─────────────────────┐
│ ▓▓▓   ▓▓▓   ▓▓▓▓▓▓ │  ← Finder patterns (3 corners)
│ ▓ ▓   ▓ ▓   ▓    ▓ │
│ ▓▓▓   ▓▓▓   ▓▓▓▓▓▓ │
│                     │
│   ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓   │  ← Data and error correction
│   ▓░░░░░░░░░░░▓   │
│   ▓░░░░░░░░░░░▓   │
│                     │
│ ▓▓▓                 │  ← Alignment pattern
│ ▓ ▓   ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ │
│ ▓▓▓                 │
└─────────────────────┘

Key Components:

Finder Patterns - The three big squares in corners help scanners locate and orient the code
Alignment Pattern - Helps correct distortion when scanning at angles
Timing Patterns - Alternating black/white modules that help determine grid size
Data Area - Where your actual information is encoded
Quiet Zone - White border around the code (essential!)

Error Correction Levels

QR codes have built-in redundancy, meaning they can still be read even if partially damaged!

Level	Recovery	Best For
L (Low)	~7%	Clean environments, maximum data
M (Medium)	~15%	General purpose (recommended)
Q (Quartile)	~25%	Industrial use, some wear expected
H (High)	~30%	Harsh environments, logos in center

Want to add a logo to your QR code? Use Level H error correction. This allows up to 30% of the code to be obscured while still being scannable!

QR Code Data Types

📶 WiFi Network

WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetwork;P:MyPassword;;

Scan to auto-connect - no more typing long passwords!

👤 Contact Card (vCard)

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
N:Smith;John
TEL:+1234567890
EMAIL:john@example.com
END:VCARD

Instantly add someone to your contacts.

✉️ Email

mailto:hello@example.com?subject=Hello&body=Message

Pre-filled email ready to send.

📱 SMS

sms:+1234567890?body=Hello

Open messaging app with pre-written text.

📞 Phone Call

tel:+1234567890

One tap to dial.

QR Code Best Practices

✅ Do:

Keep URLs short (use URL shorteners if needed)
Test your QR code before printing
Ensure adequate quiet zone (white border)
Use high contrast colors (dark on light)
Size appropriately for scanning distance

❌ Don't:

Invert colors (white on black is harder to scan)
Use low contrast color combinations
Make it too small (minimum 2cm × 2cm for print)
Stretch or distort the code
Place on curved surfaces without testing

📏 Size Guidelines:

Distance	Minimum Size
10 cm (4 in)	2 cm × 2 cm
50 cm (20 in)	5 cm × 5 cm
1 m (3 ft)	10 cm × 10 cm
5 m (16 ft)	50 cm × 50 cm

QR Code Security

Security Alert: QR codes can contain malicious URLs! Always check the URL before visiting, especially for codes found in public places.

Common QR Code Scams:

QR Code Stickers - Scammers place fake codes over legitimate ones
Phishing - Codes linking to fake login pages
Malware - Links to malicious downloads
Payment Fraud - Redirecting payments to scammer accounts

Stay Safe:

Use a QR scanner that previews URLs before opening
Be suspicious of codes in unexpected places
Verify the domain before entering credentials
When in doubt, type the URL manually

Fun QR Code Facts

🏎️ Racing Origins QR codes were invented by Denso Wave to track car parts in manufacturing. They needed something faster than barcodes!

🆓 Patent-Free Denso Wave chose not to exercise their patent rights, making QR codes free to use worldwide. This openness drove massive adoption.

📊 Capacity A single QR code can store:

7,089 numeric characters
4,296 alphanumeric characters
2,953 bytes of binary data

🎨 Colors Work (Sometimes) QR codes don't have to be black and white, but darker colors must contrast with lighter colors. Blue on white works; yellow on white doesn't!

📱 COVID Boost QR code usage exploded during the pandemic for contactless menus, check-ins, and vaccine passports. Usage increased 96% in 2020!