QR Code Reader
Drop an image of a QR code, or point your webcam at one, and the reader decodes it and tells you what is inside. It recognises URLs, WiFi credentials, vCards, calendar events and plain text, and flags suspicious-looking destinations — so a QR code that leads to a shortened URL or a punycoded domain is not silently opened.
How decoding works
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1
Provide the image
Upload a photo or screenshot, paste from clipboard, or grant webcam permission for live scanning.
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2
Locate the code
The decoder searches for the three positioning squares in the corners and aligns the grid.
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3
Read modules and correct errors
Black/white modules are sampled and Reed-Solomon error correction repairs damage up to the embedded correction level.
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4
Decode the payload
The content is interpreted by format — URL, WIFI:, BEGIN:VCARD, etc. — and displayed in a structured view.
Content the reader understands
| Payload | Example |
|---|---|
| URL | https://example.com/event?id=abc |
| WiFi | WIFI:T:WPA;S:Guest;P:hunter2;; |
| vCard | BEGIN:VCARD\nVERSION:3.0\nFN:Alice\n... |
| SMS | SMSTO:+15551234567:Hello |
mailto:hi@example.com?subject=... |
|
| Calendar event | BEGIN:VEVENT\nSUMMARY:Party\nDTSTART:... |
| Geo | geo:40.7128,-74.0060 |
| Plain text | Anything else |
Security checks before you follow the link
QR codes are designed to be human-unfriendly. You cannot read one to verify where it goes. The reader flags:
- Punycode domains (
xn--) where the Unicode rendering could impersonate another domain. - URL shorteners (bit.ly, t.co, goo.gl, tinyurl.com and common others) that hide the real destination.
- Non-HTTPS URLs — worth a warning for a public/shared code.
- IP addresses instead of hostnames — unusual for legitimate use.
- Very long URLs — sometimes a sign of encoded payloads or tracking junk.
Everything is revealed before you follow the link; the reader never auto-navigates.
Scanning tips
- Good lighting beats higher resolution. A shadowy photo fails even at 4K; a well-lit one decodes at 480p.
- Centre the code. The three positioning squares must all be clearly visible.
- Hold steady. Motion blur wrecks small codes. For live scanning, rest your phone against something.
- Zoom for tiny codes. If a conference badge has a 1 cm QR, zoom before scanning. Tiny modules fall below the camera’s effective resolution.
When decoding fails
- Too much damage. Beyond the error-correction level (7–30%), the code becomes unreadable.
- Quiet zone eaten. A neighbouring graphic too close to the code confuses the positioning pattern.
- Inverted colours. Some scanners handle light-on-dark, others don’t. If the decode fails, try inverting the image.
- Very low contrast. Coloured codes (blue on light blue) often fail. Black on white is the reliable default.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The decoded content is shown with the destination made visible. Following a link requires an explicit click, so you can verify it first.
Link shorteners hide the real destination — common in phishing QR codes. The reader tells you, so you can decide whether to follow.
QR codes include Reed-Solomon error correction, so up to 30% of modules can be damaged if the original was printed with high correction level. Heavier damage fails.
No. Video is processed in-browser; nothing is uploaded. Frames are discarded as they are analysed.
Most often lighting, blur or too-tiny code modules. Good front lighting, a steady hand and zooming in usually fix it.
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