A QR code is just a compact, camera-readable way to encode text — most often a URL. Printed on packaging, a poster, a business card or a menu, it lets someone go from "seeing it" to "on your website" in about two seconds, with no typing.
Step by step
- Open the QR Code Generator.
- Paste the URL (or any text) you want the code to open.
- Choose an error correction level — Medium is a solid default for most uses.
- Generate and download the PNG.
What error correction level actually means
QR codes include built-in redundancy so they still scan even if part of the code is damaged, dirty, or partially covered by a logo. Low correction (about 7% of the code can be damaged and still scan) packs in more data for the same size; High correction (about 30%) is far more damage-tolerant but produces a visually denser code for the same content. For a code that will be printed small or might get scuffed — a sticker on a product, say — High is worth the extra density. For a clean digital screen, Low or Medium is plenty.
Practical tips for a QR code that actually scans
- Keep strong contrast. Dark code on a light background is the safest choice; low-contrast color combinations can fail to scan even though they look fine to a human eye.
- Leave a quiet zone. The blank margin around a QR code isn't wasted space — scanners use it to locate the code's edges. Don't crop it tightly.
- Test before you print 500 of them. Scan the generated code with a couple of different phones before committing to a print run.
- Shorten the URL first if you can. Less data means a visually simpler, more scan-tolerant code at the same error correction level.