# QR Code Generator & Reader API (`seemuapps/qr-code-generator-reader`) Actor

Generate QR code images from text or URLs, or decode QR codes from images, in a single batch API call.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/seemuapps/qr-code-generator-reader.md
- **Developed by:** [Andrew](https://apify.com/seemuapps) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, Automation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$3.00 / 1,000 item processeds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## QR Code Generator & Reader API

Generate QR code images from text or URLs, or decode existing QR codes from images — batch-process any number of items in one API call.

### What you get

- **Generate mode**: turn any list of strings (URLs, text, Wi-Fi credentials, vCards, anything) into QR code PNGs, returned as data URIs ready to embed or download
- **Read mode**: decode the text encoded in any QR code image, from a URL or a data URI
- Configurable size and error-correction level for generated codes
- Batch processing — hundreds of codes per run, one dataset row per item

### Use cases

- Generate QR codes for print materials, packaging, or event badges in bulk
- Add a QR code to a document-generation pipeline (invoices, tickets, menus)
- Decode QR codes scraped from product images or uploaded photos
- Validate that a generated QR code actually decodes back to the intended text

### How to use

**Generate mode**

1. Set **Mode** to Generate
2. Paste your strings into **Texts to encode** (one per line)
3. Optionally set **Size** and **Error correction level**
4. Run — each record's `qrCodeDataUri` is a ready-to-use `data:image/png;base64,...` image

**Read mode**

1. Set **Mode** to Read / Decode
2. Paste image URLs (or data URIs) into **Image URLs to decode**
3. Run — each record's `decodedText` is the text found in that QR code

### Output format

Generate mode record:

```json
{
  "mode": "generate",
  "text": "https://apify.com",
  "qrCodeDataUri": "data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgo...",
  "size": 300,
  "errorCorrectionLevel": "M",
  "error": null
}
```

Read mode record:

```json
{
  "mode": "read",
  "imageUrl": "https://example.com/qr.png",
  "decodedText": "https://apify.com",
  "error": null
}
```

# Actor input Schema

## `mode` (type: `string`):

Generate QR code images from text, or read/decode QR codes from images.

## `texts` (type: `array`):

One string per line to turn into a QR code — a URL, plain text, or anything else.

## `imageUrls` (type: `array`):

One image URL or data URI per line, each containing a QR code to decode.

## `size` (type: `integer`):

Width and height of the generated QR code image, in pixels.

## `errorCorrectionLevel` (type: `string`):

Higher levels tolerate more damage/obstruction (e.g. a logo overlay) at the cost of a denser code.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "mode": "generate",
  "texts": [
    "https://apify.com"
  ],
  "size": 300,
  "errorCorrectionLevel": "M"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

Generate mode: text, qrCodeDataUri, size, errorCorrectionLevel, error. Read mode: imageUrl, decodedText, error.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "texts": [
        "https://apify.com"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("seemuapps/qr-code-generator-reader").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "texts": ["https://apify.com"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("seemuapps/qr-code-generator-reader").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "texts": [
    "https://apify.com"
  ]
}' |
apify call seemuapps/qr-code-generator-reader --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,seemuapps/qr-code-generator-reader"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/6SO5C0YJJfdSYDLiE/builds/uXvjvWB0RP1jEQDgL/openapi.json