QR Codes for Plain Text: Notes, Messages and Serial Numbers

Most people think of QR codes as links, but a code can simply hold text.

What a text code does

When you scan a plain-text code, the scanner shows the text on screen. There is no web page and no internet connection needed. The information is inside the code.

Good uses

• A short message or greeting on a gift or a card
• A hidden clue in a treasure hunt or a game
• An equipment serial number on a label
• A Wi-Fi hint or a locker code reminder for yourself (avoid sharing secrets publicly)
• Care instructions on a handmade item
• A short note in a classroom activity

Advantages

• Works offline. No signal is needed.
• No link to break. The message cannot disappear from a website.
• Simple to create.

Limits

• Keep it short. Long text makes a dense code that is hard to scan.
• It cannot be updated. To change the text, make a new code.
• It is not private. Anyone who scans it can read it.

Length guide

A short sentence or two makes a simple code. A whole paragraph is possible but produces a busy pattern that needs a larger print.