In this study, simple on–off fluorescent/UV–visible (UV–Vis) probes were easily prepared using 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)thiazolidine‐4‐carboxylic acid (Sen‐1) and/or 2‐(2‐hydroxy‐5‐nitrophenyl)thiazolidine‐4‐carboxylic acid (Sen‐2) for fast detection of Zn2+ ions. Their sensing properties towards common metal ions were investigated using UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. Sen‐1 and Sen‐2 displayed a significant change with the addition of Zn2+ ions in the UV–Vis spectra. The addition of Zn2+ ions induced a 104 nm bathochromic shift for Sen‐1. The binding ratio towards Zn2+ metal ions was determined to be 1:1 by using Job plot analysis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The association constant and free energy (ΔG) of Sen‐1 and Sen‐2 towards Zn2+ ions were calculated by the Benesi–Hildebrand equation. The limit of detection of Sen‐1 towards Zn2+ ions is 3.73 × 10−8 M, which is about 1/100 of the value recommended by the World Health Organization for drinking water. Sen‐1 was successfully applied to detect Zn2+ ions in water samples and the fluorescence test strip was prepared for visual detection of Zn2+ ions. Finally, the quantum chemical parameters of Sen‐1 and Sen‐2, such as highest occupied molecular orbital, lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, and chemical hardness, were investigated by the Becke, three‐parameter, Lee–Yang–Parr, Hartree–Fock, and M062x methods.