QR Code and 2D Code Generator

This page is an online two dimensional code generator which is written in PHP. It can generate QR Code, Data Matrix, Aztec Code and Micro QR Code.

Using the form on this page, you can create two dimensional code images that trigger various actions on the scanner device. Don’t forget to install Qrafter or Qrafter Pro (why two versions?) to scan and generate QR Codes if you have an iPhone or iPad. So far, this page created 4,994,408 codes since I started counting in January, 2010.

Please be sure to read the Notes and FAQ sections below before requesting help in the comments if you encounter any problems with code generation (Especially for Micro QR Codes or backslash characters you may encounter on some codes!).

This page is very popular and because of that, it gets an incredible amount of comment spam. Sometimes legitimate comments can get caught as spam and I can miss them, so if your comment does not appear after some time, you can contact me from the email address on my contact page.

READ THIS FIRST:

I am getting many questions about scanning the codes created on this generator. Most of them are about some problem with the scanner not detecting the content of the code properly. This generator follows established standards strictly and most scanner apps except Qrafter and Qrafter Pro for iOS don’t follow those standards completely. So, if you somehow end up with an unexpected result after scanning a code, it is because that your scanner was developed lousily. If you are on iOS, use Qrafter or Qrafter Pro for guaranteed standards compatibility. For other platforms, please contact the developers of your scanner app to tell them to start following the standards that were established for a reason.

Select a Code Action:
Code Type: QR Code (recommended)
Data Matrix (only ASCII chars)
Aztec Code (only ASCII chars)
Micro QR Code (only ASCII chars)
Bookmark Title: *
Web Site URL: *
Phone Number: *
SMS Message:
Mail Recipient: *
Subject:
Body:
Escape Special Characters (like colon, semicolon or comma): Yes
No
IMPORTANT: Please check notes on escaping in Notes section.
Version: 2.1
3.0
vCard Type: Real Person
Company
First Name:
Middle Name:
Last Name:
Organization:
Title:
E-Mail Address:
Mobile Phone:
Video Call Phone:
Work Phone:
Work Fax:
Home Phone:
Work Address: Street:
City:
State:
ZIP Code:
Country:
Home Address: Street:
City:
State:
ZIP Code:
Country:
Address: Street:
City:
State:
ZIP Code:
Country:
Work Web Address:
Home Web Address:
Web Address:
Birthday:
Event Format: Fully Compliant to iCalendar Standard Compliant to ZXing Proposal
Event Summary: *
Event Description:
Full Day Event: Yes (Only uses start date and end date) No (Also uses start time and end time)
Start Date:
Start Time:
End Date:
End Time:
Text: *
NOTE: Google Maps will be used to select the coordinates, but the resulting url will be a Bing Maps URL.
Location Name:
 
Twitter User: *  
Prepend username before tweet
Twitter User: *
Text to Tweet: *
Search Type: Publisher Search Exact Package Name
Market Search: *
Package Name: *
Youtube Video ID: *  
Enter either only the YouTube video ID or full URL for the video.
iTunes App ID: *  
Enter either only the App ID or full URL for the app on iTunes.
Venue ID: *  
Enter either only the venue ID or full URL for the venue.
Facebook Status: *
BBM Pin: *
SSID: *
Password:
Network Type:
URL Shortening:
(will use full url in case of error)
Error Correction Level:
(only for QR Code)
Block Size in Pixels:
Margin Size in Blocks:
Output Type:
Foreground Color:     Transparent
Background Color:     Transparent
Qrafter Banner

Notes:

You can follow me or Qrafter on Twitter.

QR Code is far more widespread than Data Matrix, Aztec Code or Micro QR Code. Actually Micro QR Code is rarely used and is only given here as a technology preview. If you want to create a campaign for your products using a 2D Code, make sure that you are using QR Codes, not the other types.

Data Matrix and Aztec Code have significantly lower capacity (4096 alphanumeric characters for QR Code, 3067 for Aztec Code and 2335 for Data Matrix), so if you would like to encode a lot of text, select QR Code.

To create the best readable code for long URLs, use one of the URL shortening services so that the resulting code is as small as possible. I personally prefer bit.ly over the others.

Micro QR Code cannot hold more than 35 numeric and 21 uppercase alphanumeric characters, and it can hold even less characters when you use lowercase characters. When encoding a URL into a Micro QR Code, try using all uppercase characters for longer URLs. I don’t know of a scanner that supports Micro QR Code though.

If your input cannot be encoded, the generator will give a warning. In that case, lower the character count in your input and try again.

If your device cannot interpret the encoded 2D Code properly, it probably means your scanner program is written poorly or does not have the capability of decoding that particular code format; or your device does not accept that action, because all codes created by this script and the content within them are compliant to all necessary published standards (vCard standards, URL encoding schemes, NTT DoCoMo standards, etc.).

While we are talking on standards, let me open the topic up a little bit more. Sadly most scanners out there do not follow special character escaping standards. Characters like “:” or “;” are special characters in vCard, meCard or vEvent specifications, and they should be properly escaped for the input to be interpreted correctly. This generator follows these standards correctly, and so a URL field like “http://example.com” becomes “http\://example.com” after escaping. The problem is, some scanners do not know how to handle this escaped character and break altogether. If you encounter such problem, select No for Escape Special Characters in vCard, meCard or vEvent creation. But while you will be able to read those QR Codes in broken scanners, be aware that, your 2D Code will not be standards compliant and you may not be able to add a URL that includes a second colon (for example as a port number separator) or semicolon when you do that. If you are on iPhone or iPad, I strongly suggest that you ditch your broken scanner and download Qrafter or Qrafter Pro. They are fully compliant to said standards. This way, I hope that developers will be forced to create scanners that obey standards that were established for a reason.

Data Matrix, Aztec Code and Micro QR Code do not support characters other than ASCII because of their spec, so if your input has international characters, always use QR Code. Another caveat of Micro QR Code is that, it is not supported by most of the scanner programs out there. As for Kanji and Cyrillic characters, again, only QR Code should support them.

Always use dark colors for foreground color and light colors for background color. If there is not enough contrast between foreground and background colors, your device will most probably fail to decode the code. Another warning: The EPS version I had to use does not support transparency, so you should use another format if you are going to have transparent foreground or background in your codes.

Twitter Profile Image Overlay option overlays your Twitter profile image onto a code that includes your Twitter profile URL. Images created with this option will behave very oddly with vector image formats. You have been warned! 🙂

Currently you can do the following actions with 2D codes generated with this form:

  • You can browse to a website.
  • You can bookmark a website.
  • You can make a phone call.
  • You can send a short message.
  • You can send an e-mail.
  • You can create a vCard (v2.1 or v3.0) with coordinates to add a contact to your device.
  • You can create a meCard to add a contact to your device.
  • You can create a vCalendar event to add to your calendar.
  • You can create iTunes app and review URLs for iOS devices.
  • You can create market:// URLs for searching for publishers or packages on Market app for Android.
  • You can create Foursquare venue URLs.
  • You can create special youtube:// URLs for YouTube app on iOS.
  • You can fetch and encode the latest tweet of a Twitter user.
  • You can overlay a Twitter profile image over the code.
  • You can create a mobile URL to tweet on Twitter.
  • You can connect to a WIFI network on Android devices.
  • You can read plain or free formatted text on your device.

You can change the block size of the generated image to make it bigger or smaller. Also, you can change the margin size of the image to add more quiet zone if your decoder cannot decode it (Especially Data Matrix seems to need bigger margin sizes). Error correction level for QR Code (ignored for other code types) can be set to 4 different values and higher values may cause the image to be decoded slightly slower. The 4 values can be explained like this:

  • Low (L): Up to 7% of errors can be corrected.
  • Medium-Low (M): Up to 15% of errors can be corrected.
  • Medium-High (Q): Up to 25% of errors can be corrected.
  • High (H): Up to 30% of errors can be corrected.

You can choose PNG, PDF, SVG or EPS outputs. SVG will output a vector image XML file, and you can edit it in applications like Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape.

Please be aware that while I make checks for illegal characters to protect my server, I do not check your input for a meaningful value.

The image generation is done using third party encoders. I have only written a handy PHP front end that formats your input and passes it to these encoders.

A note about printing from Roy, a fellow user of this generator: When codes are generated, they are created in RGB (my note: yes even if they are black and white, they are in RGB colorspace) and if they are used in printing, they should be converted to grayscale or CMYK so that, when printed, only the black plate is used. This ensures the highest edge resolution, particularly in smaller sizes.

QR Code Scanners:

The best scanner apps for iPhone and iPad are Qrafter and Qrafter Pro. They are available on the App Store. They are designed for both iPhone and iPad and Qrafter is free with advertisements, while Qrafter Pro is paid with no advertisements. They are able to understand all actions on this generator (and more) and are the most advanced scanners for QR Codes on iPhone and iPad.

For Android, the best option seems to be the Barcode Scanner app from ZXing.

For Nokia Maemo/Meego, you can use Mbarcode according to Ryks, another commenter.

For other devices, you may find one, suitable for your device from Kaywa or QuickMark.

QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED in the United States and other countries.

Qrafter is a registered trademark of Kerem Erkan in the United States, European Union and other countries.

FAQ:

Here is an updating list of frequently asked questions.

Q: Can I change the content of a code I created if I find a mistake?
A: The codes generated on this generator are standalone, which means they have no connection to this generator after being generated. This also means they include the content directly inside them, and if the content needs to change, the generated code image will change. Please test your code images with as many devices and scanner apps as possible to avoid any problems after printing the codes.

Q: Why do I get unwanted characters like a backslash (\) or semicolon (;) in the result when I scan a QR Code?
A: You are using a QR Code reader that cannot parse the contents of QR Codes correctly. Many readers are especially weak at parsing vCards. Use a proper app from the QR Code Scanners list on this page.

Q: Do you harvest the information I enter into this form?
A: No, I don’t use the information you enter to this form in any means. After you create your 2D Code, the information is removed from my server.

Q: Can I track the scan information for the 2D Codes I create on this generator?
A: You can’t track the 2D Codes you create on this generator unless you create your own trackable URL (for example a bit.ly URL) and then enter that URL to generate a QR Code for it on this page.

Q: Do the 2D codes that were created on this generator have an expiration date?
A: No, all codes generated on this generator can be used as long as you want.

Q: Can I use the codes I create on this generator commercially? Do I need to pay any fees?
A: You can use the codes created on this generator both commercially and personally. There are no fees to pay. The only favor I ask back is the promotion of Qrafter or Qrafter Pro on your site as your recommended reader app for iOS devices. But it is only a request, you are not obliged to do that. 🙂

Q: What is the minimum size for a QR Code so that it can be scanned with all devices?
A: The answer to this question cannot be given with exact proportions. New devices with autofocus cameras can scan very small QR Codes, but old devices that don’t have autofocus cameras will have problems with scanning codes smaller than one or two inches. Also it depends on the size of the information that you put into the QR Code. You need to test your QR Code with many devices, old and new to find the best compromise.

Q: Can I overlay an image on top of the QR Code like the one in “Twitter Profile Image Overlay” action of this generator?
A: Yes you can. Create a QR Code with highest error correction and select a vector output. This way, using your preferred image editor, you can overlay an image that’s up to 30% of the QR Code. Be careful not to overlay the image on top of the 3 alignment squares though.

1,121 thoughts on “QR Code and 2D Code Generator”

  1. Chris

    I just wanted to let you know, that it seems every QR code that I make now that directs to a website, with high correction, always comes up as…

    “Your generator session seems to have expired. Please refresh the page.”

    I’ve refreshed the page multiple times and nothing works. I’ve tried it with different websites, even no website, and the QR codes always look exactly the same and always come up with that message instead of the actual text I put in.

    Reply
  2. Richard

    You can redirect the folks from the old url to the new, either create a link, or have an auto redirect, hopefully they shouldnt even notice whats happened.

    Reply
  4. Christina

    Hello, I generated a QR code from your site but now I need to change the url that is associated with the qr code. Can I modify the link somehow on your generator or must I generate a new qr code?

    Reply
  5. cris

    hi there!

    is it possible to create a QR code that launches itunes app store and opens up a publisher’s library? i got the itunes linkmaker url ready, just need to know how to enable a qr code to open itunes to that link.

    thanks

    Reply
      1. cris

        hi kerem

        that’s what i’ve been doing but my boss insists that “http://” cannot be used to do that command (launch iTunes to the app list). it’s frustrating because i can’t test it myself. what he told me is to use “itms://…” which i can’t tell if it actually works.

        Reply
        1. Kerem

          Hi Cris,

          Please send the URL via email to me so that we can test it. You are right about itms:// URL, but it should be tested. You can find my email address on the contact page.

          Reply
  9. Colleen

    I created a QR code before I knew enough about what I was doing. Is there a way to edit where the code sends a reader? i.e. I think I’ve erased the landing page and then had thousands of packaging boxes printed professionally.

    Reply
    1. Kerem

      Hi Colleen,

      Unfortunately you can’t edit the content of a QR Code. You can recreate the old landing page and redirect visitors to a new page though.

      Reply
  10. Jeff

    Hi Kerem,
    This is a really informative website, thank you!
    Question: I would like to create several QR codes of v-cards and print them on business cards. I have tried it once and the print job was not perfect, the QR codes came out small and not totally sharp and only some phones could read it. I read somewhere that it’s possible to generate 300dpi QR codes. Is that true? Should I do that? Or should I just do SVG codes and then shrink them down to the size I need (1.5cm sq) before putting them on the print master? Also, could I try doing it in color or will that screw it up?
    TIA,
    Jeff

    Reply
    1. Kerem

      Hi Jeff,

      Use SVG, because it has unlimited resolution as it is a vector image. After that you can open it with Illustrator and make a 300 dpi or 600 dpi QR Code yourself. 1.5 cm sq would be too small for scanning though. You should use black and white, don’t use color for small codes.

      Reply
  12. ArchitectGord

    I’m brand new to QR codes and am trying to set up a V-Card but when I scan the QR Code I created the proper info comes up on my screen but there is no function to save the information to my contacts. Any assistance would be great. I have a Blackberry Torch 9810

    Reply
    1. Kerem

      It seems like you are not using a good reader app on your device. Try one of the recommendations from the “Scanners” section above.

      Reply
  13. Scott

    I really like this site versus others but none, once scanned by phone, will put the information in correctly. You get 2 work #’s and one home instead of a work, cell and fax. Also, the website shows in the first scan but when you save contact to phone, there is no website. It must be the phones app conversion. Tried on Droid & Iphone.

    Reply
    1. Kerem

      Unfortunately, as I state on the page, many app developers don’t bother supporting standards, that’s why the app you use cannot parse the content of the vCard inside a QR Code correctly.

      Reply
  14. Ronaldo

    Hi!

    Very cool site!
    I have a code generator in my website as well.
    I found your site very cool.
    My site is in portuguese language.
    I just started.
    When you get a chance, please, check it out.

    Reply
  15. Jordan Gray

    Hmm quick question. What’s the absolute smallest size in pixels (aka blocks) that a QR Code can be? I’d like to learn how to draw them from scratch but I’m still in the process of learning. It seems the text to encode is just an ascii string that gets converted into binary, but then I’m not sure exactly how each 1/0 fits on the image itself.

    Reply
  16. Bill

    Thanks for your quick response,

    So if I generate a QR code for my URL it is possible that somebody else can produce the same QR code for there site? Then my printed literature will guide people to the wrong site?

    I am new to QR codes and trying to understand

    Thanks
    Bill

    Reply
    1. Kerem

      Ah, I understand your question now.

      Your QR Code will be unique in that matter. So the code image will never be the same for two different contents. No one can create a code that has the same image with yours but with different content.

      Reply
  17. Bill

    Thank you for your reply, unfortunatly you did not answer my question.

    I am interested to understand:

    Is a QR code unique?
    Can it be duplicated?

    Reply
    1. Kerem

      It is very easy to recreate a QR Code. So you can’t create a unique QR Code, it can be remade without any effort. You should not use them for security applications.

      Reply
  20. les garson

    Kerem
    I’m not sure how to transfer a generated QR code onto a web site, or, for that matter, onto a written document?
    quick review would be greatly appreciated.
    thanks
    les garson

    Reply
    1. Kerem

      Hi Les,

      You should better consult a web designer to add a QR Code to your web page. A QR Code is simply an image, so just like you can display an image on a web page or print it to paper, you can easily do the same with QR Codes.

      Reply

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