generate() — Core QR Code Generation API Method

Generate QR codes from any text payload, save them to disk, or stream as an HTTP response using the fluent Laravel QR Code builder API.

The generate() method is the terminal call that renders a QR code from whatever payload and styling you have configured on the builder. Every fluent method (size(), color(), style(), and so on) returns a cloned Generator instance, leaving the original untouched, so you can safely reuse a partially-configured base and override individual settings per call.

generate()

public function generate(string $text, ?string $filename = null): QrCodeResult

Render the QR code for $text and, if you supply a $filename, write the output to that path on disk. The method always returns a QrCodeResult regardless of whether a file was written.

Parameters

text · string · required

The data payload to encode — a URL, plain string, or the pre-formatted output from any data-type method.

filename · string | null

Absolute or app-relative path where the QR code should be saved (e.g. storage_path('app/qrcodes/qr.svg')). The directory must already exist and be writable; the package will not create it for you. When omitted, the QR code is generated in memory only.

Return value

QrCodeResult · object

An immutable value object that implements Stringable, Htmlable, and Responsable.

Show QrCodeResult methods

__toString() · string

Returns the raw QR code content — SVG markup for svg format, or binary bytes for png / webp / eps.

toHtml() · string

Returns an SVG string for the svg format, or an <img> tag with a base-64 data URI for raster formats. Safe to echo directly into a Blade template.

toDataUri() · string

Returns a data:<mime>;base64,… string suitable for embedding in an <img src> attribute.

toResponse(Request $request) · Illuminate\Http\Response

Returns a full Laravel HTTP response with the correct Content-Type header. Return this directly from a controller method.

getMimeType() · string

Returns the MIME type string for the current format (e.g. image/svg+xml, image/png).

isSvg() · bool

Returns true when the current format is SVG.

Exceptions

CannotWriteFileException is thrown when you supply a $filename and either the parent directory does not exist or the process lacks write permission. Always ensure the directory exists before calling generate() with a filename.

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Fluent builder entry points

You do not need to construct a Generator manually. The QrCode facade exposes every configuration method as a static entry point. Each call returns a cloned Generator so the facade’s default state is never mutated.

size · int

Set the width and height of the QR code in pixels. Returns a cloned Generator.

QrCode::size(300)->generate('https://example.com');

format · string

Set the output format before calling generate(). Accepted values: svg, png, webp, eps. Returns a cloned Generator.

QrCode::format('png')->generate('https://example.com');

margin · int

Set the quiet-zone (whitespace) margin around the QR code in pixels. Returns a cloned Generator.

QrCode::margin(2)->generate('https://example.com');

errorCorrection · string

Set the Reed–Solomon error correction level. Accepted values: L (7%), M (15%), Q (25%), H (30%). Returns a cloned Generator.

QrCode::errorCorrection('H')->generate('Critical data');

encoding · string

Set the character encoding used when encoding the payload. Defaults to UTF-8. Returns a cloned Generator.

QrCode::encoding('UTF-8')->generate('Unicode: こんにちは');

Because every fluent method returns a clone, you can safely store a base configuration and derive variations from it without side-effects:

$base = QrCode::size(300)->errorCorrection('H');

$red = $base->color(220, 38, 38)->generate('Red QR');
$blue = $base->color(37, 99, 235)->generate('Blue QR');
// $base is unchanged

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Examples

Return as HTTP response

use Linkxtr\QrCode\Facades\QrCode;

public function show(): \Illuminate\Http\Response
{
    return QrCode::size(300)
        ->format('svg')
        ->generate('https://example.com');
}

{{-- In your controller --}}
$qr = QrCode::size(250)->generate('https://example.com');

{{-- In your Blade view (use unescaped output for SVG) --}}
{!! $qr->toHtml() !!}

{{-- Or with the Blade component --}}
<x-qr-code data="https://example.com" size="250" />

use Linkxtr\QrCode\Facades\QrCode;
use Linkxtr\QrCode\Exceptions\CannotWriteFileException;

$dir = storage_path('app/qrcodes');

if (! is_dir($dir)) {
    mkdir($dir, 0755, true);
}

try {
    QrCode::size(400)
        ->format('png')
        ->generate('https://example.com', $dir . '/site.png');
} catch (CannotWriteFileException $e) {
    // Handle missing/unwritable directory
}

use Linkxtr\QrCode\Facades\QrCode;

$result = QrCode::generate('Plain text payload');

// Direct string cast — returns raw SVG markup (default format)
$svgString = (string) $result;

// Embed as data URI in an <img> tag
$dataUri = $result->toDataUri();
echo '<img src="' . $dataUri . '" alt="QR Code">';

use Linkxtr\QrCode\Facades\QrCode;

$branded = QrCode::size(300)
    ->color(30, 64, 175)   // brand blue
    ->errorCorrection('Q');

// Each call derives a new clone — $branded stays pristine
$productQr = $branded->generate('https://example.com/product/1');
$supportQr = $branded->generate('https://example.com/support');