QR codes: how they work & how to use them safely

QR codes went from niche to everywhere — menus, payments, boarding passes. Here's what's actually inside them.

How they work

A QR code is a 2D barcode that stores data in a grid of black and white modules. The three corner squares let scanners orient it. It can hold up to ~3KB — enough for URLs, text or small payloads.

What can you encode?

Links, plain text, Wi-Fi credentials, email addresses, and more. Try our free QR code generator to encode a URL or your Wi-Fi password — download as PNG or SVG.

Staying safe

Scammers print malicious QR codes over real ones (called 'quishing'). Before scanning, check the URL you land on, and never enter passwords or payment details from a QR code you didn't trust the source of.