The passport needs a per-item unique identifier (ISO/IEC 15459) and a QR data carrier (ISO/IEC 18004). GS1 Digital Link is the standard that ties the two together: it expresses the identifier as a resolvable web URL that fits inside the QR code.
Why a plain URL is not enough
A bare link sends a human to a page but tells a machine nothing structured. GS1 Digital Link encodes identifier keys inside the URL path, so the same QR works for a phone camera and for systems that need to parse the identifier — one carrier, two audiences.
Anatomy of the encoded link
| Part | Role |
|---|---|
| Domain | The resolver that routes to the passport |
| Identifier key | GS1 application identifier for the battery |
| Serial component | The per-item value that makes it unique |
- A human scan opens the public passport page.
- A structured client can extract the identifier from the same URL.
- The serial component guarantees each physical battery resolves to its own passport, not the model.
Encode the identifier with GS1 Digital Link from the start. Retrofitting a structured identifier into QR codes already printed on labels means re-labelling stock.
Frequently asked
Is GS1 Digital Link mandatory for battery passports?
The regulation mandates a unique identifier and a data carrier; GS1 Digital Link is the established, interoperable way to encode that identifier in the QR, which is why it is the practical default.