meme-iq

name: meme-iq description: "memeIQ — your AI-powered meme generation toolkit. Use when generating memes using the memegen.link API. It applies when creating memes from templates, adding text to meme images, or generating humor for PR descriptions, changelogs, and team communication. Triggers on "create a meme", "make a meme", "meme", "generate meme", "funny image for PR", "memeIQ"." argument-hint: "[topic or context for the meme]"

memeIQ — Meme Generation with memegen.link

memeIQ is your AI-powered meme generation toolkit. It wraps the free memegen.link API so you can create developer memes in seconds — no API key, no auth, no config required.

Quick Reference

URL Construction

The URL pattern uses variable-length path segments — one segment per text line:

https://api.memegen.link/images/{template_id}/{line1}/{line2}/.../{lineN}.{format}

Examples

2-line template (drake — Drakeposting):

https://api.memegen.link/images/drake/Writing_tests/Writing_memes.png

1-line template (cmm — Change My Mind):

https://api.memegen.link/images/cmm/Tabs_are_better_than_spaces.png

3-line template (db — Distracted Boyfriend):

https://api.memegen.link/images/db/New_framework/My_current_project/Proven_technology.png

4-line template (gru — Gru's Plan):

https://api.memegen.link/images/gru/Write_a_migration/Deploy_to_prod/Drop_the_table/Drop_the_table.png

Blank line — use a single underscore _ for an empty text segment:

https://api.memegen.link/images/fry/_/Not_sure_if_bug_or_feature.png

Markdown embed for PRs and docs:

![Meme](https://api.memegen.link/images/drake/Manual_testing/CI~s~CD_pipeline.png)

Optional Query Parameters

Special Character Encoding

Text in the URL path must encode special characters:

Curated Dev Templates

Known-good as of 2026-04-23. If a template ID fails, query /templates (see Template Discovery below).

Template Discovery

To find templates beyond the curated list, query the API:

GET https://api.memegen.link/templates

Returns JSON array. Each entry has:

• id — template ID for URL construction
• name — human-readable name
• lines — number of text lines supported
• keywords — searchable tags

Check a specific template:

GET https://api.memegen.link/templates/{id}

Search by keyword: Filter the full list client-side by matching keywords or name fields. If a template ID you want to use isn't in the curated list, verify it exists with a GET request before constructing the URL.

Line Count and Text Handling

Match text to the template's line count

Each template supports a specific number of text lines (see Lines column in the curated table). You must provide the correct number of path segments.

• 1-line template (e.g., cmm): /cmm/{line1}.png
• 2-line template (e.g., drake): /drake/{line1}/{line2}.png
• 3-line template (e.g., db): /db/{line1}/{line2}/{line3}.png
• 4-line template (e.g., gru): /gru/{line1}/{line2}/{line3}/{line4}.png

Blank lines

Use a single underscore _ for any line that should be empty:

/drake/_/Only_bottom_text.png

Long text strategies

If text exceeds ~200 characters per line:

1. Shorten it — meme text should be punchy, not a paragraph
2. Split across lines — use ~n for newlines within a single line segment
3. Switch template — choose one with more lines (e.g., gru has 4)
4. Use layout=top — places all text at the top for better readability on long text

When to use layout=top

Add ?layout=top when a template's default text placement doesn't work well:

• Single-line templates where you want text at the top
• Long text that wraps poorly at default position

Output Formatting

URL only (default)

Return the clickable link:

https://api.memegen.link/images/drake/Fixing_bugs/Creating_features.png

Markdown embed (for PRs and docs)

![Fixing bugs vs creating features](https://api.memegen.link/images/drake/Fixing_bugs/Creating_features.png)

Download command (when user requests local file)

curl -sL -o meme.png "https://api.memegen.link/images/drake/Fixing_bugs/Creating_features.png"

Content Safety Guidelines

• Workplace appropriate — memes should be safe for professional contexts
• No targeting individuals — never create memes that mock specific people
• No hate speech or harassment — refuse requests for discriminatory content
• Use existing public templates — avoid branded or logo-heavy custom concepts
• No NSFW content — keep all generated memes clean
• When in doubt, choose a lighter tone or decline the request

Important Notes

• Template IDs must be valid — never fabricate an ID. If unsure, check /templates/{id} first.
• HTTP 414 occurs when URL path is too long (~200+ chars per line). Keep meme text short.
• Animation — .gif and .webp formats support animation on templates that have it.
• Blank text — use _ not an empty string. Empty segments produce malformed URLs.
• Case insensitive — template IDs are case-insensitive but conventionally lowercase.
• GitHub rendering — markdown image embeds render in PR descriptions, comments, and README files.