[3][4][5][6][7] QuArK is released under the GNU General Public License[1] and has the ability to edit maps (either directly or through an intermediate compiler process), and can import, export, manipulate and convert models, sounds, textures and various other game assets, or create any of these assets from scratch.

[8] It is also possible to move or change dynamic game objects without the need to recompile the whole map which makes the fine-tuning of details quicker.

It also offers multiple editor layouts, including 2D wireframe and 3D textured views, where it is possible to see how the map or model will look in-game.

QuArK itself has low system requirements,[9] although a lot of additional resources are taken up by the loaded game data.

These are added into an empty space, building the map block-by-block, or can be used in constructive solid geometry functions such as brush-subtraction.

[3] During a process called binary space partitioning, brushes are turned into meshes that can be rendered by the game engine.

[22] In 1997 a contest was held to rename the software and QuArK, which stands for "Quake Army Knife", was selected.