GUIDE
How Commas, Semicolons, and Newlines Are Escaped in vCard
vCard uses separators to encode structured values. Literal commas, semicolons, and line breaks need escaping so a parser does not mistake content for another field.
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What you should know
vCard uses separators to encode structured values. Literal commas, semicolons, and line breaks need escaping so a parser does not mistake content for another field.
Before you begin
- Keep an untouched copy of the source export.
- Work on a small sample before changing a complete address book.
- Review the downloaded file before importing it elsewhere.
Separators have meaning
Semicolons separate components in N and ADR. Commas can separate values in some properties. A literal separator inside a value must be escaped according to the version's rules.
Why malformed escaping causes field shifts
If an exporter forgets to escape a semicolon in a street or name component, every later component can appear in the wrong column. Validate and inspect the raw card before editing.
- Open a copied file in the validator.
- Locate fields with unexpected splits.
- Repair escaping in the editor or a known-good export.
- Compare the parsed fields with the original source.
Treat line breaks separately
A physical newline may be a folded continuation or an escaped value newline. Joining or splitting lines without understanding folding can damage long notes and encoded fields.
Questions people ask
Does How Commas, Semicolons, and Newlines Are Escaped in vCard change the original file?
No. The browser works with the selected copy and creates a separate download. Keep the original export as your rollback point.
What should I verify after How Commas, Semicolons, and Newlines Are Escaped in vCard?
Compare counts and representative fields, validate the generated copy, and test a small import before processing a full address book.