> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://laravel-qrcode.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Laravel QR Code Environment Variables Configuration Guide
> Configure QR code defaults via .env without publishing the config file — covers every supported environment variable and color format.
Every option in `config/qrcode.php` reads from a corresponding environment variable, so you can control package-wide defaults through your `.env` file without publishing or editing any PHP config. This is ideal for twelve-factor apps, containerized deployments, and multi-environment setups where each environment needs different QR code settings.
## All supported environment variables
Add any of the following entries to your `.env` file. Omitting a variable leaves the built-in default in effect.
```ini .env theme={null}
# ─── Output format ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# Accepted: svg | png | webp | eps
# Default: svg
QR_CODE_FORMAT=svg
# ─── Dimensions ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# Size in pixels (integer)
# Default: 400
QR_CODE_SIZE=400
# Quiet-zone margin in module units (integer)
# Default: 4
QR_CODE_MARGIN=4
# ─── Colors ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# Foreground color
# Accepted formats: "R,G,B" | "R,G,B,A" | "#RRGGBB" (alpha 0–100)
# Default: 0,0,0 (black)
QR_CODE_COLOR="0,0,0"
# Background color — same formats as QR_CODE_COLOR
# Default: 255,255,255 (white)
QR_CODE_BACKGROUND_COLOR="255,255,255"
# ─── Error correction ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# Accepted: L | M | Q | H
# Default: M
QR_CODE_ERROR_CORRECTION=M
# ─── Encoding ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# Default: UTF-8
QR_CODE_ENCODING=UTF-8
# ─── Rendering backend ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# Force GD even when Imagick is installed (true | false)
# Default: false
QR_CODE_FORCE_GD=false
```
## Variable reference
Sets the default image format for every generated QR code.
| Value | Notes |
| ------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `svg` | Vector format. Scales perfectly at any size. No image extension needed. |
| `png` | Raster — requires GD or Imagick |
| `webp` | Modern raster — requires GD or Imagick |
| `eps` | Vector format for print. Image merging is not supported. |
```ini theme={null}
QR_CODE_FORMAT=png
```
Sets the default pixel dimensions of the generated QR code. For `svg` and `eps` this controls the `viewBox` size; for `png` and `webp` it sets the actual pixel dimensions.
```ini theme={null}
QR_CODE_SIZE=300
```
Sets the default quiet zone (blank border) around the QR code in module units. The QR code specification recommends a minimum of 4 for reliable scanning.
```ini theme={null}
QR_CODE_MARGIN=2
```
Sets the default foreground (module) color. Three formats are accepted:
| Format | Example value |
| ---------------------------------- | ------------- |
| RGB comma-separated | `0,0,0` |
| RGBA comma-separated (alpha 0–100) | `0,0,0,100` |
| Hex | `#000000` |
```ini theme={null}
# Deep blue modules
QR_CODE_COLOR=30,64,175
# Red modules with full opacity
QR_CODE_COLOR=255,0,0,100
# Hex shorthand
QR_CODE_COLOR=#1E40AF
```
Sets the default background color. Accepts the same three formats as `QR_CODE_COLOR`.
```ini theme={null}
# Transparent background (PNG/WebP only)
# Alpha 0 = fully transparent
QR_CODE_BACKGROUND_COLOR=255,255,255,0
# Light gray background
QR_CODE_BACKGROUND_COLOR=243,244,246
```
Sets the default Reed-Solomon error correction level.
| Value | Recovery capacity | When to use |
| ----- | ----------------- | --------------------------- |
| `L` | \~7 % | Clean digital displays |
| `M` | \~15 % | General purpose (default) |
| `Q` | \~25 % | Printed materials |
| `H` | \~30 % | Codes with an embedded logo |
```ini theme={null}
# Increase to H when merging a logo into the QR code
QR_CODE_ERROR_CORRECTION=H
```
Sets the default character encoding applied to the data payload before it is encoded. Only change this if you need a specific non-Unicode encoding supported by the underlying `bacon/bacon-qr-code` library.
```ini theme={null}
QR_CODE_ENCODING=UTF-8
```
When set to `true`, the package skips Imagick and renders raster images using PHP's GD extension, even when Imagick is available. Use this when your server installs Imagick but restricts it via security policies.
```ini theme={null}
QR_CODE_FORCE_GD=true
```
GD produces lower-quality raster output and lacks some color features available in Imagick. Keep this `false` in production unless you have a specific compatibility requirement.
## Environment-specific examples
Use different defaults for local development vs. production without changing any PHP code:
```ini .env (local) theme={null}
QR_CODE_FORMAT=svg
QR_CODE_SIZE=200
QR_CODE_COLOR=107,114,128
QR_CODE_ERROR_CORRECTION=L
```
```ini .env.production theme={null}
QR_CODE_FORMAT=png
QR_CODE_SIZE=400
QR_CODE_COLOR=0,0,0
QR_CODE_ERROR_CORRECTION=H
QR_CODE_FORCE_GD=false
```
## Color format reference
The `QR_CODE_COLOR` and `QR_CODE_BACKGROUND_COLOR` variables accept three interchangeable string formats. Choose whichever fits your workflow:
| Format | `.env` value | PHP config equivalent |
| ---------------------- | --------------- | --------------------- |
| RGB CSV | `"255,0,0"` | `[255, 0, 0]` |
| RGBA CSV (alpha 0–100) | `"255,0,0,100"` | `[255, 0, 0, 100]` |
| Hex | `"#FF0000"` | — |
When using **PHP arrays** directly in `config/qrcode.php` (after publishing the config), you can also write:
```php theme={null}
'color' => [255, 0, 0], // RGB
'color' => [255, 0, 0, 50], // RGBA — 50% opacity
```
Environment variables are read by `config/qrcode.php` at boot time. **You do
not need to publish the config file** to use env vars. The unpublished config
that ships with the package already calls `env('QR_CODE_*', ...)` for every
option. Publishing the config only adds the ability to set PHP array values
(such as `[R, G, B]`) directly in PHP, which is not possible in a `.env` file.