Definition
A QR code ticket is a digital ticket that contains a unique QR (Quick Response) code. This code encodes the ticket identifier, which is validated by scanning at the event entrance. No paper ticket or physical token is needed.
How It Works
- Fan buys a ticket online
- System generates a unique 12-character ticket code
- Code is encoded into a QR code image
- QR code is delivered via email and available on the web
- At the event, door staff scan the QR code
- System validates the code and marks the ticket as used
Security
Each ticket code is unique and randomly generated from a set of unambiguous characters (no O/0, I/1 confusion). Once scanned, the ticket is immediately marked as used. Duplicate codes cannot be used — the system prevents double-scanning atomically.
QR Code Tickets Explained
A QR code ticket is a digital event ticket that uses a QR (Quick Response) code as its primary identifier and entry mechanism. Instead of a paper ticket with a barcode or a number, your ticket is a two-dimensional pattern of black and white squares that encodes your unique ticket information.
How a QR Code Ticket Is Created
When you buy a ticket on Tickts, the system generates a unique, encrypted identifier for your purchase. This identifier is encoded into a QR code image using standard QR encoding algorithms. The resulting image contains:
- Your unique ticket code (a long alphanumeric string that cannot be guessed)
- Enough error correction data to work even if part of the QR code is damaged or partially obscured
This QR code is included in your confirmation email, displayed on your ticket page in Tickts, and can be added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet for convenient access.
Advantages Over Traditional Tickets
- Cannot be lost: Your QR ticket lives in your email, on the Tickts website, and optionally in your digital wallet. Losing a paper ticket is easy; losing all three digital copies is nearly impossible.
- Cannot be counterfeited: Each QR code is cryptographically unique and validated against the server in real time. A photocopied or screenshotted code only works once — the first scan.
- Instant delivery: No waiting for postage or printing. Your ticket arrives in your email within seconds of purchase.
- Environmentally sound: No paper, no printing, no physical distribution. Digital tickets have zero material waste.
- Dynamic: If event details change, your digital ticket can be updated. Paper tickets are fixed once printed.
Using Your QR Code Ticket
At the event entrance, simply open your QR code on your phone screen (from email, wallet, or the Tickts website) and present it to the door staff. They scan it with their phone camera using the Tickts scanner, and you are in. The entire process takes about one second.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my phone battery dies?
This is the most common concern. Options include: charging your phone before the event, carrying a portable battery pack, printing your QR code as a backup, or asking door staff to look up your booking by name or email.
Is my QR code the same as my booking reference?
No. Your QR code contains an encrypted ticket identifier, while your booking reference is a shorter human-readable code for customer service purposes. Both reference the same booking but serve different functions.
Can I have a physical QR code ticket?
Yes. You can print your QR code ticket from the confirmation email or the Tickts website. The printed QR code works exactly the same as the digital version — just make sure the print quality is clear enough for the scanner to read.
