QR Code Generator
Understand QR Code Generator
Turns text or a URL into a QR code and renders it as SVG in your browser.
How it works
The text is UTF-8 encoded and packed into byte-mode codewords, Reed-Solomon error-correction codewords are computed over GF(256) and appended, and the result is laid into the module grid alongside the finder, timing, and format patterns before being drawn as one SVG rectangle per dark module. Error correction is level M, which recovers roughly 15% damaged modules. The version is chosen from the data length up to version 7 (a 45 by 45 grid), so the practical ceiling is about 122 bytes.
When to use it
- Putting a URL on a slide, a poster, or a printed handout.
- Handing a link to someone across a room without either of you typing it.
- Encoding a payload you construct yourself, such as a WIFI: join string or a mailto: link.
- Generating scalable SVG for print, where a raster code would pixelate at size.
- Adding a scannable link to a README or a documentation page.
Watch out for
- A QR code is not encryption and carries no authentication. Everything encoded is plainly readable by every scanner — the pattern is a font for bytes, nothing more. Never encode a secret and treat the code as protecting it.
- Capacity is counted in UTF-8 bytes, not characters. An accented letter costs 2 bytes and most emoji cost 4, so a string comfortably under 122 characters can still exceed the supported versions and fail to encode.
- Long URLs produce dense codes that scan badly. Shorten the link before encoding rather than printing a version-7 code at business-card size; a printed code wants roughly 2 cm and an undisturbed quiet zone around it.
- Test the printed artifact, not the screen. Low contrast, inverted colors, a logo pasted over the center, and glossy stock all break codes that scanned perfectly in a browser tab.
Not the right tool for: Codes whose destination might change, or that you want to measure. This produces a static code pointing wherever you encoded — encode a redirect URL you control if you need to move the target or count scans later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to generate a QR code?
Type or paste your text, URL, or data into the input field and the QR code renders instantly in SVG. Click Download to save it. No sign-up required, no watermarks. The QR code is generated entirely in your browser — your data is never uploaded to any server.
How to generate a QR code for a website?
Paste your full URL (including https://) into the input. The tool generates a scannable QR code that opens the URL when scanned with any smartphone camera. For print materials, download the SVG for infinite resolution scaling without pixelation.
Why is my QR code not scanning?
Common causes: insufficient contrast (dark on light background required), code printed too small (minimum ~2 cm at normal scan distance), or physical damage. QR codes have 7–30% error correction — minor corner damage is usually recoverable. Try increasing the size or quiet zone margin.
How to Use QR Code Generator
- Paste or type your input in the input area above.
- The tool processes your input automatically or click Run.
- Copy or download the result using the action buttons.
- Use Ctrl+Enter to run quickly from the keyboard.