vCard

vCard
Filename extension	.vcf, .vcard
Internet media type	text/vcard
Type code	vCrd
Uniform Type Identifier (UTI)	public.vcard
Developed by	Created by Versit Consortium, all rights transferred in 1996 to Internet Mail Consortium, all rights transferred in 2004 to CalConnect
Type of format	Electronic business card
Container for	Contact information
Standard	RFC 6350

vCard, also known as VCF (Virtual Contact File), is a file format standard for electronic business cards. vCards can be attached to e-mail messages, sent via Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), on the World Wide Web, instant messaging, NFC or through QR code. They can contain name and address information, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, URLs, logos, photographs, and audio clips.

vCard is used as a data interchange format in smartphone contacts, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal information managers (PIMs) and customer relationship management systems (CRMs). To accomplish these data interchange applications, other "vCard variants" have been used and proposed as "variant standards", each for its specific niche: XML representation, JSON representation, or web pages.

Overview

The standard Internet media type (MIME type) for a vCard has varied with each version of the specification.^[1]

vCards can be embedded in web pages.

RDFa with the vCard Ontology can be used in HTML and various XML-family languages, e.g. SVG, MathML.

Related formats

jCard, "The JSON Format for vCard" is a standard proposal of 2014 in RFC 7095. RFC 7095 describes a lossless method of representing vCard instances in JSON, using arrays of sequence-dependent tag–value pairs. jCard has been incorporated into several other protocols, including RDAP, the Protocol to Access White Space Databases (PAWS, described in RFC 7545), and SIP, which (via RFC 8688) uses it to provide contact information for the operator of an intermediary which has rejected a call.

hCard is a microformat that allows a vCard to be embedded inside an HTML page. It makes use of CSS class names to identify each vCard property. Normal HTML markup and CSS styling can be used alongside the hCard class names without affecting the webpage's ability to be parsed by a hCard parser. h-card is the microformats2 update to hCard.

MeCard is a variation of vCard made by NTT DoCoMo for smartphones using QR codes. It uses a very similar syntax, but in a more consolidated way as the storage space on QR codes is limited. It's also limited in the amount of data that can be stored, not just by the standard but the size of QR codes.

Example

An example of a simple vCard (from RFC 6350 of August, 2011, abbreviated):

 BEGIN:VCARD
 VERSION:4.0
 FN:Simon Perreault
 N:Perreault;Simon;;;ing. jr,M.Sc.
 BDAY:--0203
 GENDER:M
 EMAIL;TYPE=work:simon.perreault@viagenie.ca
 END:VCARD

This is the vCard for "Simon Perreault" (the author of RFC 6350), with his birthday (omitting the year), email address and gender.

Properties

vCard defines the following property types.

All vCards begin with BEGIN:VCARD and end with END:VCARD. All vCards must contain the VERSION property, which specifies the vCard version. VERSION must come immediately after BEGIN, except in the vCard 2.1 and 3.0 standards, which allows it to be anywhere in the vCard. Otherwise, properties can be defined in any order.

Name	Property presence			Description	Example
Name	v. 2.1^[2]	v. 3.0	v. 4.0	Description	Example
`ADR`	Optional	Optional	Optional	A structured representation of the physical delivery address for the vCard object.	`ADR;TYPE=home:;;123 Main St.;Springfield;IL;12345;USA`
`AGENT`	Optional	Optional	Undefined	Information about another person who will act on behalf of the vCard object. Typically this would be an area administrator, assistant, or secretary for the individual. Can be either a URL or an embedded vCard.	`AGENT:http://mi6.gov.uk/007`
`ANNIVERSARY`	Undefined	Undefined	Optional	Defines the person's anniversary.	`ANNIVERSARY:19901021`
`BDAY`	Optional	Optional	Optional	Date of birth of the individual associated with the vCard.	`BDAY:19700310`
`BEGIN`	Required	Required	Required	All vCards must start with this property.	`BEGIN:VCARD`
`CALADRURI`	Undefined	Undefined	Optional	A URL to use for sending a scheduling request to the person's calendar.	`CALADRURI:http://example.com/calendar/jdoe`
`CALURI`	Undefined	Undefined	Optional	A URL to the person's calendar.	`CALURI:http://example.com/calendar/jdoe`
`CATEGORIES`	Undefined	Optional	Optional	A list of "tags" that can be used to describe the object represented by this vCard.	`CATEGORIES:swimmer,biker`
`CLASS`	Undefined	Optional	Undefined	Describes the sensitivity of the information in the vCard.	`CLASS:public`
`CLIENTPIDMAP`	Undefined	Undefined	Optional	Used for synchronizing different revisions of the same vCard.	`CLIENTPIDMAP:1;urn:uuid:3df403f4-5924-4bb7-b077-3c711d9eb34b`
`EMAIL`	Optional	Optional	Optional	The address for electronic mail communication with the vCard object.	`EMAIL:johndoe@hotmail.com`
`END`	Required	Required	Required	All vCards must end with this property.	`END:VCARD`
`FBURL`	Undefined	Undefined	Optional	Defines a URL that shows when the person is "free" or "busy" on their calendar.	`FBURL:http://example.com/fb/jdoe`
`FN`	Optional	Required	Required	The formatted name string associated with the vCard object.	`FN:Dr. John Doe`
`GENDER`	Undefined	Undefined	Optional	Defines the person's gender.	`GENDER:F`
`GEO`	Optional	Optional	Optional	Specifies a latitude and longitude.	2.1, 3.0: `GEO:39.95;-75.1667` 4.0: `GEO:geo:39.95,-75.1667`
`IMPP`	Undefined	Maybe	Optional	Defines an instant messenger handle. This property was introduced in a separate RFC when the latest vCard version was 3.0. Therefore, 3.0 vCards might use this property without otherwise declaring it.	`IMPP:aim:johndoe@aol.com`
`KEY`	Optional	Optional	Optional	The public encryption key associated with the vCard object. It may point to an external URL, may be plain text, or may be embedded in the vCard as a Base64 encoded block of text.	2.1: `KEY;PGP:http://example.com/key.pgp` 2.1: `KEY;PGP;ENCODING=BASE64:[base64-data]` 3.0: `KEY;TYPE=PGP:http://example.com/key.pgp` 3.0: `KEY;TYPE=PGP;ENCODING=b:[base64-data]` 4.0: `KEY;MEDIATYPE=application/pgp-keys:http://example.com/key.pgp` 4.0: `KEY:data:application/pgp-keys;base64,[base64-data]`
`KIND`	Undefined	Undefined	Optional	Defines the type of entity that this vCard represents: 'application', 'individual', 'group', 'location' or 'organization'; 'x-*' values may be used for experimental purposes.^[3]^[4]	`KIND:individual`
`LABEL`	Optional	Optional	Incorporated without	Represents the actual text that should be put on the mailing label when delivering a physical package to the person/object associated with the vCard (related to the `ADR` property). Not supported in version 4.0. Instead, this information is stored in the `LABEL` parameter of the `ADR` property. Example: `ADR;TYPE=home;LABEL="123 Main St\nNew York, NY 12345":;;123 Main St;New York;NY;12345;USA`	`LABEL;TYPE=HOME:123 Main St.\nSpringfield, IL 12345\nUSA`
`LANG`	Mentioned^[2]^: 34	Undefined	Optional	Defines a language that the person speaks.	`LANG:fr-CA`
`LOGO`	Optional	Optional	Optional	An image or graphic of the logo of the organization that is associated with the individual to which the vCard belongs. It may point to an external URL or may be embedded in the vCard as a Base64 encoded block of text.	2.1: `LOGO;PNG:http://example.com/logo.png` 2.1: `LOGO;PNG;ENCODING=BASE64:[base64-data]` 3.0: `LOGO;TYPE=PNG:http://example.com/logo.png` 3.0: `LOGO;TYPE=PNG;ENCODING=b:[base64-data]` 4.0: `LOGO;MEDIATYPE=image/png:http://example.com/logo.png` 4.0: `LOGO;ENCODING=BASE64;TYPE=PNG:[base64-data]`
`MAILER`	Optional	Optional	Undefined	Type of email program used.	`MAILER:Thunderbird`
`MEMBER`	Undefined	Undefined	Optional	Defines a member that is part of the group that this vCard represents. Acceptable values include: a "mailto:" URL containing an email address a UID which references the member's own vCard The `KIND` property must be set to "group" in order to use this property.	`MEMBER:urn:uuid:03a0e51f-d1aa-4385-8a53-e29025acd8af`
`N`	Required	Required	Optional	A structured representation of the name of the person, place or thing associated with the vCard object. Structure recognizes, in order separated by semicolons: Family Name, Given Name, Additional/Middle Names, Honorific Prefixes, and Honorific Suffixes^[5]	`N:Doe;John;;Dr;`
`NAME`	Undefined	Optional	Undefined	Provides a textual representation of the `SOURCE` property.
`NICKNAME`	Undefined	Optional	Optional	One or more descriptive/familiar names for the object represented by this vCard.	`NICKNAME:Jon,Johnny`
`NOTE`	Optional	Optional	Optional	Specifies supplemental information or a comment that is associated with the vCard.	`NOTE:I am proficient in Tiger-Crane Style,\nand I am more than proficient in the exquisite art of the Samurai sword.`
`ORG`	Optional	Optional	Optional	The name and optionally the unit(s) of the organization associated with the vCard object. This property is based on the X.520 Organization Name attribute and the X.520 Organization Unit attribute.	`ORG:Google;GMail Team;Spam Detection Squad`
`PHOTO`	Optional	Optional	Optional	An image or photograph of the individual associated with the vCard. It may point to an external URL or may be embedded in the vCard as a Base64 encoded block of text.	2.1: `PHOTO;JPEG:http://example.com/photo.jpg` 2.1: `PHOTO;JPEG;ENCODING=BASE64:[base64-data]` 3.0: `PHOTO;TYPE=JPEG;VALUE=URI:http://example.com/photo.jpg` 3.0: `PHOTO;TYPE=JPEG;ENCODING=b:[base64-data]` 4.0: `PHOTO;MEDIATYPE=image/jpeg:http://example.com/photo.jpg` 4.0: `PHOTO;ENCODING=BASE64;TYPE=JPEG:[base64-data]`
`PRODID`	Undefined	Optional	Optional	The identifier for the product that created the vCard object.	`PRODID:-//ONLINE DIRECTORY//NONSGML Version 1//EN`
`PROFILE`	Undefined	Optional	Undefined	States that the vCard is a vCard.	`PROFILE:VCARD`
`RELATED`	Undefined	Undefined	Optional	Another entity that the person is related to. Acceptable values include: a "mailto:" URL containing an email address a UID which references the person's own vCard a text value used to specify textual information	`RELATED;TYPE=friend:urn:uuid:03a0e51f-d1aa-4385-8a53-e29025acd8af`
`REV`	Optional	Optional	Optional	A timestamp for the last time the vCard was updated.	`REV:20121201T134211Z`
`ROLE`	Optional	Optional	Optional	The role, occupation, or business category of the vCard object within an organization.	`ROLE:Executive`
`SORT-STRING`	Undefined	Optional	Incorporated without	Defines a string that should be used when an application sorts this vCard in some way. Not supported in version 4.0. Instead, this information is stored in the `SORT-AS` parameter of the `N` and/or `ORG` properties.	`SORT-STRING:Doe`
`SOUND`	Optional	Optional	Optional	By default, if this property is not grouped with other properties it specifies the pronunciation of the `FN` property of the vCard object. It may point to an external URL or may be embedded in the vCard as a Base64 encoded block of text.	2.1: `SOUND;OGG:http://example.com/sound.ogg` 2.1: `SOUND;OGG;ENCODING=BASE64:[base64-data]` 3.0: `SOUND;TYPE=OGG:http://example.com/sound.ogg` 3.0: `SOUND;TYPE=OGG;ENCODING=b:[base64-data]` 4.0: `SOUND;MEDIATYPE=audio/ogg:http://example.com/sound.ogg` 4.0: `SOUND:data:audio/ogg;base64,[base64-data]`
`SOURCE`	Undefined	Optional	Optional	A URL that can be used to get the latest version of this vCard.	`SOURCE:http://johndoe.com/vcard.vcf`
`TEL`	Optional	Optional	Optional	The canonical number string for a telephone number for telephony communication with the vCard object.	`TEL;TYPE=cell:(123) 555-5832`
`TITLE`	Optional	Optional	Optional	Specifies the job title, functional position or function of the individual associated with the vCard object within an organization.	`TITLE:V.P. Research and Development`
`TZ`	Optional	Optional	Optional	The time zone of the vCard object.	2.1, 3.0: `TZ:-0500` 4.0: `TZ:America/New_York`
`UID`	Optional	Optional	Optional	Specifies a value that represents a persistent, globally unique identifier associated with the object.	`UID:urn:uuid:da418720-3754-4631-a169-db89a02b831b`
`URL`	Optional	Optional	Optional	A URL pointing to a website that represents the person in some way.	`URL:http://www.johndoe.com`
`VERSION`	Required	Required	Required	The version of the vCard specification. In version 4.0, this must come right after the `BEGIN` property.	`VERSION:3.0`
`XML`	Undefined	Undefined	Optional	Any XML data that is attached to the vCard. This is used if the vCard was encoded in XML (xCard standard) and the XML document contained elements which are not part of the xCard standard.	`XML:<b>Not an xCard XML element</b>`

References

^ RFC 6350, section 10.1 "Media Type Registration"
^ ^a ^b "vCard version 2.1 Specification". Internet Mail Consortium. versit. 1996-09-18. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
^ "vCard Format Specification: 6.1.4. KIND". IETF. August 2011.
^ "vCard KIND:application". IETF. December 2011.
^ "RFC 2426: vCard MIME Directory, section 3.1.2".

External links

vCard 4.0 at its developer CalConnect
RFC 6350 describing the vCard format version 4
vCard and vCalendar (old versions) from the Internet Mail Consortium in the Internet Archive

[mediatype-1] RFC 6350, section 10.1 "Media Type Registration"

[2.1specification.rtf-2] "vCard version 2.1 Specification". Internet Mail Consortium. versit. 1996-09-18. Retrieved 2024-08-31.

[3] "vCard Format Specification: 6.1.4. KIND". IETF. August 2011.

[:0-4] "vCard KIND:application". IETF. December 2011.

[5] "RFC 2426: vCard MIME Directory, section 3.1.2".

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