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Biology Tools · Updated October 21, 2026 · Reviewed by FormatFlow Editorial

Restriction Digest Map

You can draw an accessible restriction map of linear or circular DNA in your browser, with enzyme cut positions, fragment sizes, a cut-site table and SVG export.

Runs in your browserFree · No sign-up · No watermark
DNA → RESTRICTION MAPRuns in your browser
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Everything runs locally in this tab. No file is uploaded while the tool loads.

This tool runs in your tab. Nothing is uploaded and no copy is stored.

How files are handled

At a glance

Works with
DNA → RESTRICTION MAP
Processing
In your browser
Price
Free, no account
Updated
October 21, 2026
All Biology Tools

About Restriction Digest Map

A restriction map is a visual summary of where enzymes cut a DNA molecule. It is the quickest way to see whether a plasmid carries the expected sites, to choose enzymes for a digest and to predict the pattern a gel should show for linear or circular DNA.

This tool draws an accessible map with a horizontal ruler for linear DNA and a circle for circular DNA, marks each cut and labels enzyme names and positions. A cut-site table reports fragment sizes, the map can be exported as SVG, and the same cut-offset logic as the digest calculator is used.

What this tool does

The details that matter when you use Restriction Digest Map for real work.

  • Linear and circular maps

    Linear DNA is drawn on a horizontal ruler, while circular DNA becomes a ring with position 0 at the top and fragments wrapping around.

  • Cut positions and labels

    Every cut is marked with the enzyme name and its position, using the same cut offsets as the restriction digest calculator.

  • Combined digest view

    Select several enzymes at once to see a combined cut list and the fragment sizes a multi-enzyme digest would produce.

  • Cut-site table

    A table lists each enzyme's recognition site, number of sites, cut positions and fragments for the chosen topology.

  • SVG export

    Download the map as a standalone SVG with resolved colors and fonts, ready for a report, slide or notebook.

  • Accessible markup

    The map has a title, description and role, and the cut-site table gives the same information in text form.

How to use Restriction Digest Map

No account, no installation — the whole job happens in this browser tab.
  1. 01

    Paste the DNA sequence

    Paste raw DNA or a FASTA record; headers, spaces, digits and punctuation are removed automatically.

  2. 02

    Choose linear or circular

    The topology changes how fragments are calculated, so pick the form the molecule actually takes.

  3. 03

    Select enzymes

    Tick one or more enzymes from the embedded set, or use the common set for a quick plasmid check.

  4. 04

    Read the map and table

    Check the cut positions and labels on the map, then confirm the fragment sizes in the cut-site table.

  5. 05

    Export the map

    Download the SVG for a report or presentation, or use the table values directly in your notes.

How this tool works

Works with
DNA → RESTRICTION MAP
Processing
Client-side, in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Requirements
Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari · JavaScript enabled

Limitations worth knowing

  • Assumes complete digestion at every detected site and calculates fragments on the top strand, so staggered cuts leave overhangs that the map does not draw.
  • Ambiguity codes are accepted but sites spanning them are not detected, and methylation, star activity and partial digests are not modeled.
  • The map shows ideal cut positions only; gel migration, supercoiling and enzyme kinetics are outside its scope.

Privacy and file handling

The DNA sequence you paste stays in this browser tab. Site searching, map drawing and SVG export run with JavaScript on your device, so nothing is uploaded, stored or logged, and closing the page discards the input.

Read the full privacy policy

Restriction Digest Map FAQ

Short, direct answers to the questions people ask before using this tool.
What is a restriction digest map?
A restriction map is a diagram of the sites where one or more restriction enzymes cut a DNA molecule, usually drawn along a ruler or around a circle. It shows where the recognition sites lie and what fragment sizes a digest should produce.
Why does the map look different for circular DNA?
A circle has no ends, so cut positions are shown around a ring and fragments are the distances between consecutive cuts, including the segment that wraps around the origin. A linear molecule is drawn on a ruler and its fragments run from end to end.
How are cut positions placed on the map?
Each position is the number of bases before the cut on the top strand, calculated from the enzyme's recognition site plus its cut offset. The same offset logic is used by the restriction digest calculator, so both tools report the same cut positions.
Can I export the restriction map?
Yes. The Download SVG button saves the map as a standalone vector file with the current colors and fonts resolved, so it can be opened in a browser, slide deck or vector editor without the website.
Do I need to select only one enzyme?
No. You can select several enzymes to see a combined digest, and the table still reports each enzyme's individual sites and fragments. The combined cut list merges sites that fall at the same position.
Why might a site be missing from the map?
Ambiguity codes in the sequence cannot match a specific recognition site, so a site spanning an unknown base is not detected. The map warns when ambiguity codes are present, and a real digest may also be affected by methylation or partial cutting.
Does the map account for gel migration?
No. Fragment sizes are calculated from sequence positions on the top strand, while a gel separates by size and shape, and supercoiled or nicked plasmids move differently. Treat the fragment list as a prediction and confirm it against a digested sample.
Does the DNA sequence stay in my browser while the map is drawn?
Yes. Site searching, map drawing and SVG generation all run with JavaScript in this browser tab, so the sequence is never uploaded, stored or logged, and closing the page discards it.

Background reading

Format guides that explain the trade-offs behind Restriction Digest Map.