SnapQR — QR Code Generator

SnapQR is a lightweight and customizable React hook for generating stylish QR codes. It’s designed to work seamlessly with React based apps — offering a simple API, live updates, and flexible download options.

Features

• ✅ Simple and modern React hook interface
• ✅ Easy integration — one line to render a QR code
• ✅ Live updates for data and styles
• ✅ Supports multiple formats (svg, png, jpeg, webp)
• ✅ TypeScript support out of the box

1. Installation

npm install snap-qr
# or
yarn add snap-qr
# or
pnpm add snap-qr

2. Quick Start

Hook Parameters

useSnapQR(initialData: string, initialOptions?: SnapQROptions)

Here’s the simplest way to use SnapQR in your project.

import useSnapQR from "snap-qr";

export default function Home() {
    const { SnapQRComponent } = useSnapQR("https://paperdex.in");

    return (
        <div className='flex min-h-screen items-center justify-center border'>
            <div className='size-[500px] flex justify-center items-center'>
                <SnapQRComponent className='w-full' />
            </div>
        </div>
    );
}

✅ That’s it! You now have a fully functional QR code rendered in your React or Next.js app.

3. API Overview

useSnapQR(initialData: string, options?: SnapQROptions)

Returns a set of utilities and a ready-to-render React component.

| Return Value | Type | Description | | ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | | SnapQRComponent | React.FC<{ className?: string }> | The QR rendering component. | | onDataChange | (e: ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => void | Update QR data interactively. | | onExtensionChange | (e: ChangeEvent<HTMLSelectElement>) => void | Change output file type. | | onDownloadClick | (options?: Partial<DownloadOptions> \| string) => void | Download the QR code. | | updateData | (data: string) => void | Update QR data manually. | | updateOptions | (options: Partial<SnapQROptions>) => void | Dynamically update QR options. | | applyExtension | (ext: ExtensionFunction) => void | Apply extra extensions. | | deleteExtension | () => void | Remove applied extensions. | | getRawData | (ext?: FileExtension) => Promise<Blob \| Buffer \| null> | Get QR raw data for custom use. | | appendToContainer | (container: HTMLElement) => void | Manually mount QR to a custom element. | | fileExt | FileExtension | Current QR file format. | | currentData | string | Current data encoded in the QR. | | error | string \| null | Any initialization or render errors. | | qrCodeInstance | QRCodeStyling \| null | Underlying qr-code-styling instance. |

4. Example with Customization

import useSnapQR from "snap-qr";

export default function App() {
    const { SnapQRComponent, onDataChange, onExtensionChange, onDownloadClick, currentData } = useSnapQR(
        "https://paperdex.in",

        {
            //  Layout Options - Define the overall structure and embedded image
            layoutOptions: {
                type: "svg", // Output type: 'canvas' or 'svg'
                width: 500, // QR code width in pixels
                height: 500, // QR code height in pixels
                margin: 4 // Margin around the QR code
            },

            //  QR Options - Core configuration for QR code data encoding
            qrOptions: {
                typeNumber: 4, // Determines QR code complexity (1–40)
                mode: "Byte", // Encoding mode: 'Byte', 'Numeric', etc.
                errorCorrectionLevel: "Q" // Error correction: 'L', 'M', 'Q', or 'H'
            },

            // //  Image Options - Controls how the embedded logo/image behaves
            imageOptions: {
                hideBackgroundDots: true, // Hide dots behind the image
                imageSize: 0.3, // Scale of the embedded image relative to the QR
                crossOrigin: "anonymous" // Cross-origin handling for external images
            },

            // //  Dots Options - Customize the shape, color, and gradient of QR dots
            dotsOptions: {
                type: "rounded", // Dot shape: 'square', 'dots', 'rounded', etc.
                color: "#000000", // Fallback color if gradient not used
                gradient: {
                    type: "linear", // Gradient type: 'linear' or 'radial'
                    rotation: 45, // Rotation angle of gradient
                    colorStops: [
                        { offset: 0, color: "#ff7e5f" },
                        { offset: 1, color: "#4d20c9" }
                    ]
                }
            },

            // //  Corners Square Options - Controls outer square corners of QR
            cornersSquareOptions: {
                type: "extra-rounded", // Corner square shape
                gradient: {
                    type: "radial",
                    rotation: 0,
                    colorStops: [
                        { offset: 0, color: "#4facfe" },
                        { offset: 1, color: "#ff7e5f" }
                    ]
                }
            },

            // //  Corners Dot Options - Customize the small dots inside corners
            cornersDotOptions: {
                type: "dot", // Inner corner dot shape
                gradient: {
                    type: "linear",
                    rotation: 90,
                    colorStops: [
                        { offset: 0, color: "#43e97b" },
                        { offset: 1, color: "#4d20c9" }
                    ]
                }
            },
            // //  Background Options - Set the background color or gradient
            backgroundOptions: {
                round: 0, // Corner roundness of the QR background (0 = sharp, 1 = fully rounded)
                color: "#ffffff", // Background color (use gradient for more effects)
                gradient: {
                    type: "linear", // Gradient type: 'linear' or 'radial'
                    rotation: 45,
                    colorStops: [
                        { offset: 0, color: "#ffffff" },
                        { offset: 1, color: "#feb47b" }
                    ]
                }
            }
        }
    );

    return (
        <div className='flex flex-col gap-4 min-h-screen items-center justify-center p-5'>
            <div className='size-[250px] md:size-[400px] flex justify-center items-center border border-yellow-500 '>
                <SnapQRComponent className='w-full' />
            </div>
            <input value={currentData} onChange={onDataChange} className='border px-2 py-1' />
            <select onChange={onExtensionChange}>
                <option value='svg'>SVG</option>
                <option value='png'>PNG</option>
                <option value='jpeg'>JPEG</option>
                <option value='webp'>WEBP</option>
            </select>
            <button onClick={() => onDownloadClick()} className='border px-2 py-1'>
                Download
            </button>
        </div>
    );
}

5. Advanced Use Cases

1. QR Code with Logo

useSnapQR("https://example.com", {
    layoutOptions: {
        image: "/path/to/logo.png"
    },
    imageOptions: {
        imageSize: 0.4,
        hideBackgroundDots: true,
        margin: 10
    }
});

2. Different File Formats

function MultiFormatQR() {
    const { SnapQRComponent, onExtensionChange, onDownloadClick, fileExt } = useSnapQR("https://example.com");

    return (
        <div>
            <select value={fileExt} onChange={onExtensionChange}>
                <option value='svg'>SVG</option>
                <option value='png'>PNG</option>
                <option value='jpeg'>JPEG</option>
                <option value='webp'>WebP</option>
            </select>

            <SnapQRComponent className='w-full' />

            <button onClick={() => onDownloadClick("my-qr-code")}>Download as {fileExt.toUpperCase()}</button>
        </div>
    );
}

3. Custom Download Options

function CustomDownloadQR() {
    const { onDownloadClick } = useSnapQR("https://example.com");

    const handleDownload = () => {
        onDownloadClick({
            name: "custom-qr-code",
            extension: "png"
        });
    };

    return <button onClick={handleDownload}>Download with Custom Name</button>;
}

4. Programmatic Updates

function ProgrammaticQR() {
    const { updateData, updateOptions } = useSnapQR("initial");

    const handleUpdate = () => {
        updateData("Updated QR code content");
        updateOptions({
            dotsOptions: {
                color: "#ff0000",
                type: "rounded"
            }
        });
    };

    return (
        <div>
            <button onClick={handleUpdate}>Update QR Code</button>
        </div>
    );
}

5. Get Raw Data

function RawDataQR() {
    const { getRawData } = useSnapQR("https://example.com");

    const handleGetData = async () => {
        const rawData = await getRawData("png");
        if (rawData) {
            // Use the raw data (Blob) for your needs
            console.log("Raw data size:", rawData.size);
        }
    };

    return <button onClick={handleGetData}>Get Raw PNG Data</button>;
}

6. Manual Container Control

function ManualContainerQR() {
    const { appendToContainer } = useSnapQR("https://example.com");
    const customContainerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);

    const handleAttach = () => {
        if (customContainerRef.current) {
            appendToContainer(customContainerRef.current);
        }
    };

    return (
        <div>
            <button onClick={handleAttach}>Attach to Custom Container</button>
            <div ref={customContainerRef} style={{ width: 200, height: 200 }} />
        </div>
    );
}

7. Error Handling

function ErrorHandledQR() {
    const { SnapQRComponent, error } = useSnapQR("https://example.com");

    return (
        <div>
            {error && <div className='error-message'>Error: {error}</div>}
            <SnapQRComponent className='w-full' />
        </div>
    );
}

78 Custom Extensions

function ExtendedQR() {
    const { applyExtension, deleteExtension } = useSnapQR("https://example.com");

    const applyCustomStyle = () => {
        const customExtension: ExtensionFunction = (qrCode) => {
            // Modify QR code instance here
            return qrCode;
        };
        applyExtension(customExtension);
    };

    return (
        <div>
            <button onClick={applyCustomStyle}>Apply Custom Style</button>
            <button onClick={deleteExtension}>Remove Custom Style</button>
        </div>
    );
}

9. Gradient QR Code

useSnapQR("https://example.com", {
    dotsOptions: {
        gradient: {
            type: "linear",
            rotation: 45,
            colorStops: [
                { offset: 0, color: "#ff0000" },
                { offset: 1, color: "#0000ff" }
            ]
        }
    }
});

6. Performance Tips

1. Memoize Options: Use useMemo for dynamic options to prevent unnecessary re-renders
2. Debounce Updates: Debounce rapid data changes for better performance
3. Lazy Loading: Consider dynamic imports for large QR codes

function OptimizedQR() {
    const [data, setData] = useState("initial");
    const debouncedData = useDebounce(data, 300);

    const options = useMemo(
        () => ({
            dotsOptions: {
                color: "#000000",
                type: "rounded"
            }
        }),
        []
    );

    const { SnapQRComponent } = useSnapQR(debouncedData, options);

    return (
        <div>
            <input value={data} onChange={(e) => setData(e.target.value)} placeholder='Type to generate QR code...' />
            <SnapQRComponent className='w-full' />
        </div>
    );
}

7. Tech Stack

• React 18+
• TypeScript
• qr-code-styling

8. Author

Rohit Sutar npmjs.com/package/snap-qr github.com/rohitsutar

9. License

MIT © Rohit Sutar