How to Generate a QR Code

A QR code is a visual encoding of text. It is not a link shortener, and it does not need a server. If you encode https://aibynow.com/tools/pdf-to-markdown, a scanner reads that URL directly. That is the simplest and most durable option for a printed poster, a slide, or a product label.

Decide what to encode

• A stable URL for a page you control.
• Plain text for a short instruction, a Wi-Fi note, or an event detail.
• Contact details in a format the scanner understands.

Do not encode a URL that will change next week. A printed QR code cannot be edited; a dynamic redirect can, but it adds a third-party dependency and a tracking layer. If you need to change the destination, print a new code.

Choose a size that actually scans

A QR code needs enough physical size and contrast. As a rough guide:

• Screen or slide: at least 200 × 200 px.
• A4 poster viewed from 1–2 m: 3–5 cm square.
• Packaging or a business card: test with two phones before printing.

Keep a quiet zone (white margin) around the code. Do not place it on a busy photo or a low-contrast background. A black code on white is the safest choice.

Test before you print

1. Generate the PNG.
2. Scan it with at least two phones, including one older device.
3. Open the decoded URL and check the destination, including any redirect.
4. Test at the intended print size, not just on screen.
5. If the code contains a long URL, shorten the path or use a shorter destination; denser codes are harder to scan.

QR Code Generator creates a PNG in the browser. The destination is encoded directly; there is no redirect service in the middle.

Common mistakes

• Encoding a URL with a typo. The code scans perfectly and goes to the wrong page.
• Putting the code on a dark background. Inverted codes are not universally supported.
• Stretching the image. Keep the square aspect ratio.
• Using a screenshot of a code. Re-export the PNG; screenshots can blur the modules.
• Adding a logo over the data modules. Decorative logos can make the code unreadable unless the generator supports error correction properly.

Privacy and tracking

A direct QR code does not tell you who scanned it. If you use a redirect or UTM parameters, the destination can measure the campaign, but the code itself is no longer a direct link. Decide which trade-off you need before printing.

For campaign links, UTM Builder adds attribution parameters. For page metadata, Meta Tag Generator handles the head tags.

The short version

Encode a stable destination, keep the code square and high-contrast, and test it at the final size. A QR code is a printed link; treat it with the same care as the URL.