Data types

How to encode URLs, vCards, Wi-Fi join, email, SMS, geo coordinates, and dynamic short URLs in a QR.

QR codes encode much more than URLs. The data_type field tells the API which encoding rule to apply. Phone scanners (iOS Camera, Android default scanner, Google Lens) recognize each format and offer the matching action: open URL, save contact, join Wi-Fi, dial number, etc.

`data_type`	What it does when scanned
`url` (default)	Opens a URL in the default browser
`text`	Shows raw text
`vcard`	Offers to save a contact
`wifi`	Offers to join a Wi-Fi network
`email`	Opens the mail composer with prefilled fields
`sms`	Opens the SMS composer
`geo`	Opens the device map app at a coordinate
`dynamic`	Encodes a short URL we host. Repointable any time.

url

For plain links. Pass the URL as data.

{
  "data": "https://yourbusiness.com/menu",
  "size_inches": 4
}

Long URLs

Long URLs produce QRs with more modules, which means each module is smaller at a given print size, which makes scans harder. If your URL has tracking parameters, consider:

A URL shortener (bit.ly, your own redirect)
A dynamic QR (encode a short URL, store the long one server-side)

text

Plain text. Phones show it as a string with no action.

{
  "data_type": "text",
  "data": "Table 14 - Bonjour de la part du chef!",
  "size_inches": 3
}

vcard

Saves the person to the scanner's address book. Output is standards compliant vCard 3.0; special characters are escaped per spec.

{
  "data_type": "vcard",
  "payload": {
    "name": "Alex Tremblay",
    "org": "Acme Co",
    "title": "Founder",
    "phone": "+15145551234",
    "email": "alex@yourcompany.com",
    "url": "https://yourcompany.com",
    "address": "123 Rue Saint-Laurent, Montreal QC",
    "note": "Met at Web Summit 2026"
  },
  "size_inches": 3,
  "format": "svg"
}

Field	Required	Notes
`name`	yes	Full display name
`org`		Company name
`title`		Job title
`phone` or `phones`		Single string or array
`email` or `emails`		Single string or array
`url`		Personal or company URL
`address`		One-line postal
`note`		Free-form

Old Android vCard parsers

Android 6 and earlier sometimes choke on EMAIL: lines with multiple addresses. Use one email max in email, or pass an array via emails and accept that older devices may show only the first.

wifi

The scanner offers a single-tap "Join Network" button. Perfect for cafes, hotels, AirBnBs, conference venues.

{
  "data_type": "wifi",
  "payload": {
    "ssid": "Cafe Plein Soleil",
    "password": "BienvenueChezNous2026",
    "auth": "WPA"
  },
  "size_inches": 6
}

Field	Required	Allowed values
`ssid`	yes	Any string (special chars escaped)
`password`	If `auth != NOPASS`	Any string
`auth`		`WPA` (default), `WEP`, `NOPASS`
`hidden`		`true` for hidden SSID

Wi-Fi QR support

iOS supports Wi-Fi QR since iOS 11 (2017). Android since version 10 (2019). Earlier devices show the raw WIFI:T:...; string and will not auto-join.

email

{
  "data_type": "email",
  "payload": {
    "address": "support@yourbusiness.com",
    "subject": "Customer feedback",
    "body": "Hi team,\n\n"
  },
  "size_inches": 3
}

Field	Required	Notes
`address`	yes	Email address
`subject`		URL-encoded automatically
`body`		URL-encoded automatically

The output is a standard mailto: URI: mailto:support@...?subject=...&body=...

sms

{
  "data_type": "sms",
  "payload": {
    "phone": "+15145551234",
    "body": "Hi, I saw your QR ad - I am interested in"
  }
}

Field	Required	Notes
`phone`	yes	E.164 format recommended (`+1...`)
`body`		Pre-filled message

geo

Opens the device's default map app at a GPS coordinate.

{
  "data_type": "geo",
  "payload": {
    "lat": 45.5017,
    "lng": -73.5673
  }
}

Use vCard for full addresses

geo: is purely lat/lng. For a business name and a postal address, use a vcard instead.

dynamic

Encodes a short URL we host. The destination is stored in our database and editable any time without reprint.

{
  "data_type": "dynamic",
  "payload": {
    "name": "Spring 2026 menu",
    "destination_url": "https://example.com/menus/spring-2026"
  },
  "size_inches": 4
}

Field	Required	Notes
`name`	yes	Internal label, never visible to scanners
`destination_url`	yes	The URL we 302 redirect to. Editable later.

The render response embeds the encoded short URL as https://q.qrstudio.agency/q/<short_id>/. The image is otherwise identical to a static URL render.

The same call also creates a DynamicQr row in our database. Manage it with the /api/v1/dynamic/ endpoints.

See Static vs dynamic for the full trade-off discussion.

Choosing the right type

flowchart LR
    A{What should<br/>the scanner do?} --> B[Open a website]
    A --> C[Save my contact]
    A --> D[Join my Wi-Fi]
    A --> E[Send me an email]
    A --> F[Text me]
    A --> G[Show a location on map]
    A --> H[Display some text]
    A --> I[Open a URL I can change later]

    B --> b1[url]
    C --> c1[vcard]
    D --> d1[wifi]
    E --> e1[email]
    F --> f1[sms]
    G --> g1[geo]
    H --> h1[text]
    I --> i1[dynamic]

Combining types

A QR encodes one thing at a time. There is no "Wi-Fi + vCard" payload. For multi-action, point a url at a landing page that offers each action as a button:

<a href="WIFI:T:WPA;S:Cafe;P:WelcomeGuest;;">Join our Wi-Fi</a>
<a href="tel:+15145551234">Call us</a>
<a href="mailto:hi@cafe.com">Email us</a>

Or use a dynamic QR pointing at the landing page; you get analytics for free and can swap the page later.

What is next

Styling and colors: make it match your brand
Logos: add your brand mark to the center
API reference: every parameter

On this page