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RFC 5545

Into their diary, before they forget.

An event code holds an iCalendar entry — title, start, end, place. Scanning it offers to add the event to the phone's calendar, which is a far better outcome than a date on a poster.

Make a Event codeOther types

live example — scannable

Payload format

iCalendar VEVENT, done properly

The payload is a VEVENT wrapped in a VCALENDAR. RFC 5545 requires both UID and DTSTAMP; plenty of generators omit them, and some calendar clients refuse the import outright when they are missing. We always include both.

BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Diwali Mela
DTSTART:20261108T170000Z
END:VEVENT
UID
A stable identifier. Required, and derived from the event so re-adding does not duplicate.
DTSTAMP
When the entry was created. Required by the spec.
DTSTART / DTEND
Start and end in UTC. An end before the start is rejected.
SUMMARY
The event title as it appears in the calendar.
LOCATION
Optional place, which most calendar apps turn into a map link.

How to make one

Title, start, and the rest

  1. 01

    Name the event

    What someone should see in their calendar a month from now.

  2. 02

    Set start and end

    Times are converted to UTC so they land correctly across time zones.

  3. 03

    Add the place

    Most calendar apps make the location tappable for directions.

Where it earns its keep

Where an event code works

  • A gig or festival poster, so the date survives the walk home.
  • A conference badge or programme, one code per session.
  • A community noticeboard for a recurring meeting.
  • A wedding invitation, with the ceremony already timed.

Questions

Event QR codes, answered

Why do some event codes fail to import?

Usually a missing UID or DTSTAMP. Both are required by RFC 5545, and some calendar clients reject the whole entry without them. We always emit both.

How are time zones handled?

Times are converted to UTC and marked with a trailing Z. The calendar app then displays them in the reader's local time, which is what you want for a public event.

Can I encode a repeating event?

Not in this version. Recurrence rules are supported by the format but add real complexity to both the form and the payload size.

Does adding it invite anyone?

No. The code creates a calendar entry on the scanner's own device. No invitations are sent and nobody is notified.

Other types