QR Code Factory

📱 Generate beautiful QR codes or decode existing ones. Batch processing, custom colors, multiple formats. No ads, no limits, no tracking.

🎯 What This Actor Does

A complete QR code solution with two modes:

Generate Mode

• Create QR codes from text, URLs, WiFi credentials, or any data
• Customize colors, size, and error correction level
• Output as PNG or SVG
• Batch generate hundreds of QR codes at once

Read Mode

• Decode QR codes from uploaded images
• Decode from image URLs
• Extract embedded data, links, or text

🚀 Use Cases

Use Case	Example
Marketing	QR codes linking to landing pages
WiFi Sharing	Encode network credentials
Event Tickets	Generate unique ticket codes
Product Labels	Link to product information
Business Cards	vCard contact information
Inventory	Asset tracking codes
Payments	Payment links and crypto addresses

📥 Input Examples

Generate QR Codes

{
    "mode": "generate",
    "contents": [
        "https://apify.com",
        "WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetwork;P:MyPassword;;",
        "mailto:hello@example.com"
    ],
    "size": 400,
    "format": "png",
    "errorCorrection": "M",
    "darkColor": "#000000",
    "lightColor": "#FFFFFF"
}

Read/Decode QR Codes

{
    "mode": "read",
    "imageUrls": [
        "https://example.com/qr-code.png"
    ]
}

⚙️ Configuration

Generate Options

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
contents	array	-	Strings to encode as QR codes
size	integer	400	Image size in pixels (100-2000)
format	string	png	Output format: png or svg
errorCorrection	string	M	Error correction: L/M/Q/H
darkColor	string	#000000	QR module color (hex)
lightColor	string	#FFFFFF	Background color (hex)

Error Correction Levels

Level	Recovery	Best For
L	~7%	Maximum data capacity
M	~15%	General use (default)
Q	~25%	Light damage tolerance
H	~30%	Logos/heavy damage

Read Options

Parameter	Type	Description
imageFile	string	Upload image directly
imageUrls	array	URLs to images containing QR codes

📤 Output

Generate Mode

{
    "mode": "generate",
    "input": "https://apify.com",
    "qrCode": "https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/.../records/qr-abc123.png",
    "format": "png",
    "size": 400,
    "status": "success",
    "createdAt": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z"
}

Read Mode

{
    "mode": "read",
    "input": "https://example.com/qr.png",
    "decodedContent": "https://apify.com",
    "status": "success",
    "readAt": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z"
}

🎨 QR Code Data Types

URL

https://example.com

WiFi Network

WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:Password;;

Email

mailto:email@example.com?subject=Hello

Phone

tel:+1234567890

SMS

sms:+1234567890?body=Hello

vCard Contact

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
FN:John Doe
ORG:Company
TEL:+1234567890
EMAIL:john@example.com
END:VCARD

Calendar Event

BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Meeting
DTSTART:20240115T100000Z
DTEND:20240115T110000Z
END:VEVENT

🚀 Quick Start

Using Apify Console

1. Select mode: generate or read
2. Enter content or upload images
3. Configure options
4. Click Start
5. Download from Key-Value Store

Using API

# Generate QR codes
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/YOUR_USERNAME~qr-code-factory/runs?token=YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "mode": "generate",
    "contents": ["https://example.com"],
    "size": 500
  }'

# Read QR codes
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/YOUR_USERNAME~qr-code-factory/runs?token=YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "mode": "read",
    "imageUrls": ["https://example.com/qr.png"]
  }'

Using JavaScript

import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: 'YOUR_TOKEN' });

// Generate QR codes
const run = await client.actor('YOUR_USERNAME/qr-code-factory').call({
    mode: 'generate',
    contents: [
        'https://my-website.com',
        'https://my-app.com/download'
    ],
    size: 600,
    darkColor: '#1a365d',
    lightColor: '#ffffff'
});

const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();

for (const item of items) {
    console.log(`QR for ${item.input}: ${item.qrCode}`);
}

Using Python

from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient('YOUR_TOKEN')

# Generate QR codes
run = client.actor('YOUR_USERNAME/qr-code-factory').call(run_input={
    'mode': 'generate',
    'contents': ['https://example.com'],
    'size': 400
})

items = client.dataset(run['defaultDatasetId']).list_items().items
for item in items:
    print(f"Download: {item['qrCode']}")

💡 Advanced: Batch Generation

Generate hundreds of unique QR codes:

const products = await fetchProducts(); // Your product list

const run = await client.actor('YOUR_USERNAME/qr-code-factory').call({
    mode: 'generate',
    contents: products.map(p => `https://mystore.com/product/${p.id}`),
    size: 300,
    errorCorrection: 'H' // High for printing
});

// Download all QR codes
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();

💰 Cost Estimation

QR Codes	Approx. Time	Compute Units
10	~5 seconds	~0.002
100	~20 seconds	~0.01
1,000	~2 minutes	~0.08

🔧 Technical Details

• Node.js: 22.x
• Libraries: qrcode, jsQR, sharp
• Max Size: 2000x2000 pixels
• Memory: 256MB-512MB

❓ FAQ

What's the maximum content length?

QR codes can store up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters, but ~500 is practical for reliable scanning.

Can I add a logo to the QR code?

Not directly in this Actor. Generate with H error correction, then overlay a logo covering up to 30% of the center.

Why isn't my QR code scanning?

• Increase size for print materials
• Use H error correction for durability
• Ensure sufficient contrast between colors

What image formats can be read?

PNG, JPEG, WebP, and most common formats supported by Sharp.

📄 License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.