How do I generate QR codes as PNG in Ruby?

Use rqrcode with rqrcode_png or the built-in PNG rendering. Create a QRCode object and call as_png to get PNG binary data or save to file.

Can I generate SVG QR codes with rqrcode?

Yes. rqrcode has built-in SVG support. Use qr.as_svg(module_size: 6) to get an SVG string that you can embed in HTML or save to a file.

How do I use QR codes in a Rails view?

Generate the QR code as SVG in your controller or helper, then render it directly in your ERB/HAML template using raw() or html_safe.

Can I add a logo to a QR code in Ruby?

rqrcode does not support logos natively. Use the QRCode.fun API for logo support, or generate the QR as PNG and composite a logo using MiniMagick or ImageMagick.

Ruby QR Code Library

Generate QR Codes with Ruby

Ruby's rqrcode gem makes QR code generation simple and elegant. Perfect for Rails applications, scripts, and automation workflows.

Try QR Generator View API Docs

Installation

Install the rqrcode gem using Bundler or gem install.

Gemfile

gem 'rqrcode'

gem

gem install rqrcode

Generate QR Codes with rqrcode

Code examples using the rqrcode gem in Ruby.

QR Code as SVG

require 'rqrcode'

qr = RQRCode::QRCode.new('https://qrcode.fun')

svg = qr.as_svg(
  offset: 0,
  color: '1A2B3C',
  shape_rendering: 'crispEdges',
  module_size: 6,
  standalone: true
)

File.write('qrcode.svg', svg)

QR Code as PNG

require 'rqrcode'

qr = RQRCode::QRCode.new('https://qrcode.fun')

png = qr.as_png(
  bit_depth: 1,
  border_modules: 4,
  color_mode: ChunkyPNG::COLOR_GRAYSCALE,
  color: 'black',
  file: nil,
  fill: 'white',
  module_px_size: 6,
  resize_exactly_to: false,
  resize_gte_to: false,
  size: 300
)

IO.binwrite('qrcode.png', png.to_s)

Rails Controller

class QrCodesController < ApplicationController
  def show
    qr = RQRCode::QRCode.new(params[:data] || 'https://qrcode.fun')
    svg = qr.as_svg(module_size: 6, standalone: true)

    render inline: svg, content_type: 'image/svg+xml'
  end
end

QRCode.fun API

Generate QR Codes via API in Ruby

Call the QRCode.fun API from Ruby using Net::HTTP or Faraday for styled QR codes.

Ruby API Integration

require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://qrcode.fun/api/generate-qr-styled')
http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true

request = Net::HTTP::Post.new(uri)
request['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
request.body = {
  data: 'https://qrcode.fun',
  width: 300,
  height: 300,
  type: 'png',
  margin: 10,
  dotsOptions: { color: '#1A2B3C', type: 'rounded' },
  cornersSquareOptions: { color: '#8564C3', type: 'extra-rounded' },
  backgroundOptions: { color: '#FFFFFF' }
}.to_json

response = http.request(request)
result = JSON.parse(response.body)
puts result['data'][0..49]

Live QR Code Preview

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Native Library vs API

Compare using rqrcode versus the QRCode.fun API.

Feature	rqrcode Gem	QRCode.fun API
Setup complexity	gem install + ChunkyPNG for images	Single HTTP request
Customization	Colors, module size (SVG/PNG)	Full styling: colors, shapes, logos
Offline support	Yes	Requires internet
Maintenance	bundle update	Always up-to-date
Output formats	SVG, PNG, ANSI terminal	PNG, SVG

Ruby QR Code Use Cases

Common scenarios for QR codes in Ruby applications.

Rails Applications

Generate QR codes in Rails controllers for user profiles, event tickets, and two-factor authentication setup.

Background Jobs

Create QR codes asynchronously with Sidekiq or Active Job for batch label generation and email campaigns.

API Endpoints

Build API endpoints that return QR codes as images or SVG for mobile apps and third-party integrations.

Automation Scripts

Write Ruby scripts for generating QR codes in bulk for inventory, asset tagging, and event management.

Ruby QR Code Ecosystem Deep Dive

Ruby's elegant syntax and Rails ecosystem make QR code generation simple and productive for web applications.

Rails Controllers, Views & Active Storage

In Rails, generate QR codes in controllers using rqrcode and serve them as inline SVG or PNG downloads. Use Active Storage to persist generated QR codes as model attachments — attach a QR code to a Ticket or Product record. Rails' fragment caching with cache keys based on QR content avoids redundant generation. In Hotwire/Turbo applications, generate QR codes server-side and deliver them via Turbo Frames for dynamic updates without full page reloads.

Sidekiq Background Processing

For bulk QR code generation, offload work to Sidekiq workers. Create a GenerateQrCodeJob that produces QR codes for batch scenarios like event ticketing, product labeling, or mail campaigns. Use Sidekiq's batch feature to track completion of large QR generation runs. Redis caching with a content-based key (Digest::SHA256) prevents duplicate generation across workers and serves cached results for repeated requests.

Gem Ecosystem: rqrcode, ChunkyPNG & MiniMagick

Ruby's gem ecosystem provides flexible QR code rendering pipelines. rqrcode generates the QR matrix, then ChunkyPNG renders it to PNG without ImageMagick dependency — ideal for containerized deployments. MiniMagick enables advanced post-processing: adding logos, rounded corners, and gradient backgrounds. For SVG output, rqrcode's built-in SVG renderer creates resolution-independent QR codes perfect for responsive web designs and print materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about generating QR codes with Ruby.

rqrcode is the most popular and well-maintained Ruby gem for QR code generation. It supports SVG and PNG output and integrates well with Rails.

Explore QR Code Libraries for Other Languages

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