MeCard (QR code)

MeCard is a data file similar to vCard but used by NTT DoCoMo in Japan in QR code format for use with Cellular Phones.

It is largely compatible with most QR-readers for smartphones. It is an easy way to share a contact with the most used fields. Usually, devices can recognize it and treat it like a contact ready to import.

The following QR Code image is an example containing the text: MECARD:N:Doe,John;TEL:13035551212;EMAIL:john.doe@example.com;;

QR Code MeCard example

Advantages

Its main advantage is the simplicity: It is very intuitive.

It is based in UTF-8 (which is ASCII compatible), the fields are separated with one semicolon (";"), the tags are very readable, they are separated with a colon (":") and --maybe the most important reason-- compared with vCard it needs very few chars which is important for the size of a QR Code.

Limitations

Compared to vCard, MeCard format only stores one single contact, a few labels, and a few data pieces to be set in a typical phonebook.

Structure

MeCard format starts with the tag "MECARD:" and it finishes with two semicolons (";;")

The supported tags include:

Tag	i-mode compatible bar code recognition function	Description	Example
`ADR`	3.0	The physical delivery address. The fields divided by commas (,) denote PO box, room number, house number, city, prefecture, zip code and country, in order.	`ADR:,,123 Main St.,Springfield,IL,12345,USA;`
`BDAY`	3.0	8 digits for date of birth: year (4 digits), month (2 digits) and day (2 digits), in order.	`BDAY:19700310;`
`EMAIL`	1.0	The address for electronic mail communication.	`EMAIL:johndoe@hotmail.com;`
`N`	1.0	A structured representation of the name of the person. When a field is divided by a comma (,), the first half is treated as the last name and the second half is treated as the first name.	`N:Doe,John;`
`NICKNAME`	3.0	Familiar name for the object represented by this MeCard.	`NICKNAME:Johnny;`
`NOTE`	1.0	Specifies supplemental information to be set as memo in the phonebook.	`NOTE:I am proficient in Tiger-Crane Style,\nand I am more than proficient in the exquisite art of the Samurai sword.;`
`SOUND`	1.0	Designates a text string to be set as the kana name in the phonebook. When a field is divided by a comma (,), the first half is treated as the last name and the second half is treated as the first name.
`TEL`	1.0	The canonical number string for a telephone number for telephony communication.	`TEL:(123) 555-5832;`
`TEL-AV`	2.0	The canonical string for a videophone number communication.	`TEL-AV:(123) 555-5832;`
`URL`	3.0	A URL pointing to a website that represents the person in some way.	`URL:https://www.johndoe.com/`

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External links

NTT DoCoMo MECARD format and example at the Wayback Machine (archived 4 March 2016)
QR Code MeCard online generator

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