A QR code is just a compact way to hand someone a piece of text with their camera. Once you know that, the "special" kinds — Wi-Fi codes, contact cards, payment links — all make sense. Here's how they work and how to make them.
What a QR code actually stores
A QR code doesn't "link to" anything by magic — it simply encodes text. When a phone camera reads it, it gets that text back and decides what to do: if it looks like a web address, it offers to open it; if it's a special format, the phone acts on it. That's the whole trick. Everything below is just a text format the phone recognises.
Generate any QR code in your browser — plain, Wi-Fi, or contact card — no watermark, no sign-up.
Open QR GeneratorWi-Fi QR codes
A Wi-Fi code stores your network name, password and security type in a special format. When a guest scans it, their phone offers to join the network — no reading a long password off a fridge magnet. It's perfect for cafés, offices, holiday rentals and home guest networks.
One thing to understand: the password is stored in the code itself, so anyone who scans it can join. That's the point — but it means you should print it for a space you already trust, not post it publicly. Our Wi-Fi QR Generator builds the code entirely on your device, so the password is never sent anywhere.
Contact card (vCard) QR codes
A vCard code stores your name, phone, email and website in the standard contact format. Scanning it lets someone save you to their address book in one tap — ideal for business cards, email signatures and conference badges. Update your details, regenerate the code, and reprint. Try it with the Business Card QR Generator.
Generating codes in bulk
If you need a code for every product, table, or event ticket, making them one by one is painful. Bulk generation takes a list — one URL or text per line — and produces a code for each, ready to download together. Use the Bulk QR Generator and export the whole set as a ZIP.
Tips for QR codes that actually scan
- Keep good contrast. Dark code on a light background scans best. Avoid pale or low-contrast colours.
- Don't shrink them too far. A printed code should be at least ~2cm square; smaller and cameras struggle.
- Leave a quiet zone. Keep clear space around the code — crowding it against other elements breaks scanning.
- Test before you print. Always scan the final code with a couple of phones before committing to a print run.
Because every one of these tools runs locally, you can generate codes for private networks and personal contacts without anything leaving your browser.