QR Code Types and Data Formats

Plain Text

The simplest type. The QR code contains whatever string you type, with no special prefix and no structure. Scanners display it as-is. Useful for serial numbers, inventory tags, event tickets, or any payload that your own software will read.

URL

A URL QR code contains a web address. Most phone cameras detect the https:// prefix and offer to open the link directly. Open QR Maker auto-prefixes `https://` if you leave it off.

For batch generation, each line is a complete URL. Shorter URLs produce simpler codes that scan more reliably at small sizes, so use a URL shortener if your links are long.

WiFi

WiFi QR codes use the WIFI: scheme. When scanned, the device offers to join the network automatically, with no manual password entry. The WiFi generator builds this string from form fields.

Encoded string format: WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetwork;P:secret123;;. Fields are semicolon-separated and the string ends with a double semicolon. Special characters (\, ;, ", :, and ,) in the SSID or password must be backslash-escaped.

Contact (vCard)

A vCard QR code contains a BEGIN:VCARD … END:VCARD block. Scanning it opens the phone's "Add Contact" screen with fields prefilled. Open QR Maker encodes vCard 3.0, which is the most widely supported version across iPhone and Android.

vCard payloads are multi-line and relatively long, which means denser QR codes. If you are printing at small sizes, include only the fields you actually need.

Email (mailto:)

An email QR code uses the mailto: URI scheme. Scanning opens the default mail app with the recipient, subject, and body prefilled. The email generator builds the query string for you.

Full example: mailto:support@example.com?subject=Order%20123&body=Hi%20there. The subject and body are percent-encoded.

SMS (sms:)

An SMS QR code uses the sms: URI scheme. Scanning opens the messaging app with a phone number, and many platforms also support a prefilled message body. The SMS generator handles the encoding.

Full example: sms:+15551234567?body=Confirm%20order. The body is percent-encoded, matching RFC 5724, but Apple's SMS URL documentation only guarantees the sms:<phone> form without message text. Use the international format (with country code) so the code works for scanners in any country, and if iPhone compatibility matters more than prefilling text, use a number-only SMS QR.

Phone (tel:)

A phone QR code uses the tel: URI scheme. Scanning places the number in the dialer; the user still has to press Call. The phone generator simply prepends tel: to the number you enter.

Always include the country code (e.g., +1 for the US) so the code works internationally. This is especially important for codes printed on packaging or marketing materials that may be scanned abroad.

App Store Links

App store codes are regular URL codes pointing at the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app store guide covers URL anatomy and routing in detail.

Using These Formats in Batch Mode

The batch generator takes one payload per line and encodes each as a separate QR code. It treats every line as a plain text payload, so you need to supply the final encoded string, not just the field values.

• URL (one full URL per line): https://example.com/product/101
• WiFi (one WIFI: string per line): WIFI:T:WPA;S:GuestNet;P:pass123;;
• Email (one mailto: URI per line): mailto:info@example.com?subject=Hello
• SMS (one sms: URI per line): sms:+15551234567?body=Confirm
• Phone (one tel: URI per line): tel:+15551234567
• vCard: not practical for batch (multi-line); use the single-code generator instead