Supported QR code data types
A QR code can carry more than a URL. The phone's camera decodes the payload and decides what to do with it: open a link, save a contact, or join a network. Here are the common types, what each does on scan, and what to watch for.
| Data type | What happens on scan | Notes and limits |
|---|---|---|
| URL / website | Opens a link in the browser | The most common type; keep it short to keep the code sparse and scannable |
| Plain text | Shows text on screen | No action taken; good for serials, short notes, or codes to copy |
| Wi-Fi | Offers to join a network | Encodes SSID, password, and security type; static, so reprint to change it |
| vCard / contact | Prompts to save a contact | Name, phone, email, company; many fields make the code dense |
| Opens a pre-filled email | Recipient, subject, and body; the person still taps send | |
| Phone / SMS | Starts a call or pre-filled text | A tel: or sms: payload; the person confirms before it sends |
Wi-Fi and vCard codes encode their data directly, so they're static, and changing the password or your phone number means a new code. For anything that might change, a URL pointing at an editable page you control is the durable choice. Make a Wi-Fi or vCard code free with our browser tools.
See also
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