Create a QR code of your own

Here’s an example of a QR code as captured by an iPhone running an app (application) specifically designed for scanning and interpreting these 2D patterns. This QR code is actually a link to the Computeractive website and what happens next depends on the app that reads it: the website may launch automatically or the link may be displayed first, ready for the user to click (or rather tap) if they want.

QR code patterns might look complex but creating one is actually very easy, as there are many automated generators online that will do the job free. Launch your browser and visit Createqrcode's website. This is the website for simple and easy-to-use QR code generator. In the text box, type in whatever it is you’d like to turn into a QR code – anything from a website or email address to a passage of text. This particular generator has a limit of 200 characters. Now use the dropdown menu below to choose a size (in pixels) for the matrix and then click the Create QR Code button.

In the blink of an eye, the website will update to display the generated QR code. To try it out right away, launch a QR code reader app, point it at the PC’s monitor and (if necessary) hit the Scan or Capture button. If you want to use the QR code elsewhere – in your own documents or on a website, say – there are a couple of options. To use it in another Windows application or document, right-click the image, choose Copy and then paste it elsewhere as needed. Alternatively, to embed it into a website, for example, drag the mouse over the long Google Chart API URL below, right-click and choose Copy and then paste the code into the relevant web page.