Static QR codes, and why the file does not expire here
The link lives in the image
A static code from this site stores the link, text, or contact in the file itself. After you download it, the image does not ask qrcodegenonline.com where to go. A plan ending here cannot turn the printed code off.
What a hosted code does instead
A hosted generator stores a redirect on its server. Scanning opens their address, and they forward the phone to yours. That lets you change the destination after printing, and it lets them count scans. It also means the code depends on their service.
Use a hosted tool when you know you will need to edit the destination later. Use a static file when the printed image should keep working on its own.
Which file to download
Pick the format for where the code will live:
- SVG for print, signs, and packaging
- PNG for slides, email, and websites
- JPEG only when another tool rejects PNG
If the page moves, print a new code
A static URL code keeps the address you typed. If that page moves, the code still points at the old address. Keep the file, and export a new one when the destination changes.