QR codes are everywhere now — on menus, posters, packaging, business cards and shop windows. They're a simple, free way to connect the physical world to a web page, and you can make one in under a minute. Here's how, plus some genuinely useful ways to put them to work.

What a QR code actually is

A QR ("quick response") code is a square barcode that a phone camera can read. Most of the time it holds a website link, so scanning it opens a page. But it can also store plain text, a phone number, an email address, or even Wi‑Fi login details, so a guest can join your network without typing a password.

How to create one for free

You don't need an app or an account. Using a free QR code generator, the steps are:

• Enter your link or text — for a website, paste the full address including https://.
• Choose the size — larger if it'll be printed big or scanned from a distance.
• Pick your colours — you can match your brand, but keep strong contrast (see below).
• Download the PNG and drop it into your design, print, or slide.

Because the code encodes your link directly, it's a "static" QR code — it never expires and keeps working for as long as the destination page exists.

Make sure it always scans

A surprising number of QR codes in the wild don't scan well. Avoid that with three rules:

• High contrast: dark code on a light background is safest. Very light or low-contrast colours confuse scanners.
• Big enough: print it at least 2 × 2 cm, larger for posters. If a phone can't focus, it can't scan.
• Quiet zone: leave a little white space around the code — don't crowd it with other graphics.

Clever ways to use QR codes

• Restaurant & café menus — link to an always-up-to-date online menu.
• Business cards — point to your website, portfolio or booking page.
• Wi‑Fi for guests — a code that connects them automatically, no password typing.
• Product packaging — link to instructions, how-to videos, or reorder pages.
• Events & posters — send people straight to tickets or a sign-up form.
• Reviews — a code that opens your Google review page makes leaving feedback effortless.

A quick tip on tracking

A basic QR code doesn't tell you how many people scanned it. If you want that data, point the code at a link that you can measure — for example, a page with analytics, or a link with a tracking parameter. That way you keep the simplicity of a free static code while still learning what's working.