Seeds: how to recreate, share or bookmark the exact same maze

Random does not have to mean unrepeatable. The generator draws every maze from a seed, a short piece of text that starts its random number sequence. Same seed, same settings, same maze, on any computer, on any day.

Where the seed comes from

When the seed field is empty, the generator picks a random number and uses that. It shows the number in the stats bar under the maze and as a placeholder in the field. When you type your own seed, the generator uses it instead. A seed can be anything: a number, a word, a date, a child's name.

What the seed controls

The seed fixes every random decision: which cell the algorithm starts from, which wall it opens at each step, where the entrance and exit fall along their edges, and where the inner room's doorway is placed. Changing any setting other than the seed, such as the algorithm or the size, changes the maze even if the seed stays the same, because the random decisions are made in a different order or over a different grid.

The shareable link

The link button builds an address that includes the shape, cell style, size, algorithm, twistiness, inner room and seed. Copy it in one click and send it to someone; when they open it, the tool restores the settings and draws the same maze. Bookmark it to come back later. Nothing is stored on a server; the link carries everything.

Uses

• Classroom: put a seed on the board so every pupil generates the same maze at home.
• Competitions: share a link at a set time so everyone starts an identical puzzle together.
• Books: use the page number as the seed to make re-exporting trivial.
• Personalised gifts: use a name or birthday as the seed and print the seed on the page.

Limits

A seed is only as reproducible as the engine that reads it. If the generator's algorithms are ever updated, old seeds may draw differently, so for a published product keep the exported files as well as the seeds. The seed also does not fix the colours or line thickness, which are drawing settings rather than random choices; the link records them only as far as the drawing needs.