Event QR Code Generator

How an event QR code works

The code carries a complete calendar entry — title, location, description, start and end time — in the iCalendar format phones already understand. Scanning it offers to add the event to the calendar, filled in and ready to save.

The details are encoded in the symbol, so the code works offline and keeps working after the event page comes down.

Where it earns its keep

• Posters and flyers. The gap between "that looks interesting" and "it's in my diary" becomes one scan.
• Invitations and save-the-dates. Nobody has to transcribe a date.
• Conference programmes. One code per session.
• Class and fixture schedules. Put one next to each entry.

Getting it right

Times are taken exactly as you enter them. The code carries no timezone, so a scanner adds it to their calendar at the wall-clock time you typed. That is what you want for a local event; for anything with remote attendees, put the timezone in the title or description so there is no ambiguity.

Keep the description brief. It goes inside the symbol, so a long one makes a dense code. Put the detail on a web page and use a URL code alongside if you need more room.

Check the end time. An event with an end before its start will be rejected or will land in the calendar looking wrong.