Good uses for text codes
Because the content is shown rather than opened, text codes suit situations where there is no website involved or connectivity is poor. They are common in warehouses, workshops, museums and classrooms.
- Asset tags and serial numbers on equipment.
- Short assembly or safety instructions on a machine.
- Scavenger hunt clues and classroom activities.
- Recovery codes or reference numbers you want to print rather than type.
- Labels for storage boxes describing what is inside.
How much text fits
A QR code can technically hold around 2,900 characters of plain text at the lowest error correction, but a code that dense is hard to print and scan. For reliable results aim for under 300 characters. If you need more, host the text on a web page and use a URL code instead.
Error correction adds redundancy so a scratched or partially covered code can still be read. Higher levels make the code denser. For clean indoor labels, Medium is a sensible default; choose High for outdoor or industrial use.
A note on privacy
Anyone who scans a text code can read it, so don't encode passwords or personal data on something displayed publicly. The upside of generating it here is that the text is never uploaded; the code is drawn locally by your browser.