What a QR code is
A QR code (“Quick Response” code) is a square grid of black and white dots that stores information any phone camera can read. Unlike the old barcode, which only holds a short number, a QR code can carry a full web address, your WiFi password, a block of text, an email, or the contact details for a business card. Point your camera at it and the phone decodes it instantly, offering to open the link or copy the data.
This generator builds the code right in your browser. Everything happens on your device: whatever you type is never sent to a server and is never stored anywhere. Use it as often as you like and download the result as a PNG (a raster image) or an SVG (a vector file that prints crisply at any size).
What people use them for
- Restaurant menus: guests scan and see the menu on their phone — no printed cards to reprint.
- Guest WiFi: share your network without reading out a password character by character.
- Payments: many wallets and banks generate or scan QR codes to charge and transfer money.
- Links: send people to your site, social profile, or a promo from a poster or flyer.
- Business cards: embed your contact so anyone who scans saves it with a single tap.
How to use the generator
- Type or paste your content into the box: a URL like
https://yoursite.com, free text, or WiFi data. - Pick the size in pixels (256, 512, or 1024). Larger sizes print more cleanly.
- Choose the error correction level (M by default). Move up to H if you plan to add a logo or print the code.
- Adjust the dots color and background color if you want to brand it. Keep strong contrast — dark dots on a light background read best.
- The preview updates on its own. When you’re happy, click Download PNG or Download SVG.
Error correction levels
QR codes carry built-in repair data: if part of the code gets dirty, scratched, or covered, the reader can still rebuild the information. There are four levels:
| Level | Damage tolerated | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| L | Up to 7% | Clean screens, throwaway codes |
| M | Up to 15% | General use (recommended) |
| Q | Up to 25% | Environments with wear |
| H | Up to 30% | Print, or when placing a logo on top |
The trade-off for a higher level is a denser code (more dots), so it needs to be printed a little larger to stay readable.
The WiFi QR format
For a phone to join your network automatically on scan, the content must follow this exact format:
WIFI:S:NetworkName;T:WPA;P:YourPassword;;
Here S is the network name (SSID), T is the security type (WPA, WEP, or nopass for an open network), and P is the password. Note the two semicolons at the end — they are required. Real example: WIFI:S:HouseSmith;T:WPA;P:Pass1234;;.
Worked example
You want a QR for a guest network called “Cafe Central” with the password “welcome2026”, WPA security, to print on a sign. You paste into the box:
WIFI:S:Cafe Central;T:WPA;P:welcome2026;;
You pick size 512, level H (because it will be printed and hung on a wall, exposed to smudges), and leave the colors black on white. You download the SVG so the print shop can scale it to poster size without pixelation. Done — your customers connect just by aiming their camera.
Static vs. dynamic
The codes this tool makes are static: the information lives inside the code itself. They never expire, depend on no service, and are free forever. The so-called “dynamic” QR codes some platforms sell don’t store your data — they store a short link that redirects to a destination they control and that you can change later. That convenience comes at a price: if you stop paying the subscription, the code stops working. For most uses — a menu, your WiFi, a fixed link — a static QR is the better choice.
Frequently asked questions
Do QR codes expire?
Static ones, like those from this tool, never expire: the information is inside the image itself and will work as long as the paper or screen exists. Only paid “dynamic” codes can stop working if the provider shuts down or you cancel the subscription.
How many scans can a QR code handle?
Unlimited. A static code can be scanned a million times or just once — there’s no counter and no cap, because no server tracks usage. Every scan is independent and works the same on day one as it does years later.
Why choose level H?
Level H reserves 30% of the code for repair, so you can cover part of the center with a logo and it stays readable. It’s also the right pick for print: it survives smudges, creases, and scuffs without breaking. If the code lives on a clean screen with no logo, M is plenty.
What’s the minimum size for printing?
As a rule of thumb, don’t go below 2 × 2 centimeters (about 0.8 inches) for a close scan — a table, a product in hand. For posters read from a meter or more away, scale the size up proportionally. Downloading the SVG lets you scale without losing sharpness; with PNG, choose 512 or 1024 pixels so it stays well defined in print.