Code Generators

QR codes and barcodes are both machine-readable, but they serve different purposes. A QR code can hold up to a few hundred characters — a URL, Wi-Fi credentials, contact info — and scans instantly with a phone camera, while a barcode (EAN-13, Code 128, etc.) is built for short numbers and strings, mainly used for product management and inventory labels. Choose a QR code to share a link, and a barcode to tag a product or asset with a number.

Both tools generate the result entirely in your browser without sending anything to a server, so sensitive information like an internal address or Wi-Fi password never leaves your device. The generated image can be downloaded as a PNG and used right away on printed materials or business cards. For printed QR codes, aim for at least 2×2cm and leave a clear white margin (the quiet zone) around the code so it keeps scanning reliably.

Format confusion is common when choosing a barcode. If a product already ships with EAN-13 printed on it, a newly generated code needs to match that same spec for store scanners to read it; for internal inventory with its own rules, Code 128 is more flexible since it holds both letters and numbers. Packing a full URL, long paragraph or entire contact card into a QR code makes it visually dense and less reliable to scan — for signage, a short link is safer, with the rest of the information living on the page that link opens.