QR Code Generator

Generate real QR codes for a URL or plain text entirely in your browser, then download the same code as PNG or SVG.

QR Code Preview

Clear controls

Review inputs and results

Transparent methods

Understand the output

Works on any device

Mobile, tablet or desktop

How to Use the QR Code Generator

Enter text or a URL, choose error correction and a target output size, and select foreground/background colors. Check the live preview and color warning before downloading. Size snaps upward to whole modules for crisp exports. Copy image is available when the browser supports PNG clipboard writing; reset restores the default Jolbox URL.

Formula and Explanation

Payload → UTF-8 bytes with an explicit UTF-8 ECI marker → QR Model 2 encoding
Error correction level: L, M, Q or H as selected
Quiet zone: 4 modules on each edge
Pixel scale = max(4, ceil(target size / total module width))
Actual PNG/SVG size = total module width × integer pixel scale

A locally bundled Project Nayuki encoder selects a fitting QR version from 1–40 and enforces its actual capacity for the selected correction level. Higher error correction usually leaves less payload space. The code contains the entered data directly: no external QR service, shortening redirect or tracking endpoint is inserted. PNG and SVG use the identical matrix, colors and four-module quiet zone.

Scanning depends on size, printing, contrast, lighting and the reader. Keep dark modules on a light background and preserve the quiet zone. The low-contrast warning is a heuristic, not a guarantee of scannability. Oversized payloads are rejected according to the selected correction level. Text is encoded as UTF-8; reader handling of Unicode can vary. PNG clipboard access requires browser support, permissions and a secure context. A downloaded QR is static and does not provide analytics or editable redirects.

Project Nayuki QR encoder documentation and source

Worked Example

Entering https://jolbox.com with level M encodes those exact UTF-8 URL bytes. The displayed version and actual pixel size describe the generated symbol. If the requested target is not a whole-module size, the output grows to the next supported pixel multiple; the URL is unchanged. Scan the exported file before printing or sharing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the QR image a real scannable code?

Yes. A proven local QR encoder creates QR Model 2 data modules and error correction. Automated tests independently decode generated URLs and text; you should also scan your final export in its intended print or display conditions.

Does my text get sent to a QR service?

The generator encodes in the browser using locally bundled code. It does not call an external QR API or insert a tracking URL. Scanning an encoded web address later opens that address according to the reader’s behavior.

Why is the downloaded size slightly different?

Output snaps upward to an integer number of pixels per module, with at least four pixels per module. This preserves crisp modules and the quiet zone. PNG and SVG report the actual matching dimensions.

Which correction level should I choose?

L, M, Q and H trade payload capacity for increasing error correction. Higher levels can require a larger symbol. They do not compensate for poor contrast, a missing quiet zone or an unreadably small print.