Understanding QR Codes: Types, Uses, and Best Practices
Everything you need to know about QR codes - how they work, different types, best practices, and creative applications for business and personal use.
Create QR codes for any purpose in seconds
Enter data to generate QR code
Type or paste the content you want to encode into the QR code. This can be a URL, text, email, phone number, or other data.
Select the appropriate type: URL, Text, Email, Phone, SMS, or Wi-Fi. The generator will format the data correctly for each type.
Adjust the QR code size, error correction level (L, M, Q, H), and choose between light or dark theme. Higher error correction allows the code to work even if partially damaged.
Click the generate button to create your QR code instantly. The code will appear in the preview area.
Use your smartphone camera or a QR code scanner app to test that the code works correctly before downloading.
Download your QR code in PNG, SVG, or PDF format. PNG is best for digital use, SVG for scalable graphics, and PDF for printing.
Print the QR code or use it digitally. Place it on business cards, flyers, websites, or anywhere you want to share information quickly.
Remember that anyone can scan your QR code. Only encode information you are comfortable sharing publicly.
You can encode URLs, plain text, email addresses, phone numbers, SMS messages, Wi-Fi network credentials, contact information (vCard), and more.
Most modern smartphones have built-in QR code scanners in their camera apps. Simply open your camera app and point it at the QR code.
Error correction allows QR codes to work even if partially damaged or obscured. Levels range from L (lowest, ~7% recovery) to H (highest, ~30% recovery). Higher levels create denser codes but are more reliable.
Yes, QR codes are free to generate and use. There are no licensing fees or restrictions for creating or using QR codes.
Yes, you can customize QR code colors, background, and add logos or images while maintaining scanability. Be careful not to obscure too much of the code.
QR codes can store up to 2,953 bytes (about 2.9 KB) of data. The actual capacity depends on the error correction level and data type.
No, QR codes themselves don't expire. However, if the QR code links to a URL, that URL may become unavailable over time.
Our generator creates static QR codes. To track scans, you would need to use a URL shortener service that provides analytics, or host the destination URL on a platform with tracking capabilities.
QR codes are readable by anyone with a scanner. Never encode sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers. Always verify the destination before scanning unknown codes.
You can download QR codes as PNG (raster image), SVG (vector image), or PDF (for printing). PNG is best for web use, SVG for scalable graphics, and PDF for professional printing.
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