Following Verde-Star, Linear Algebra Appl. 627 (2021), we label families of orthogonal polynomials in the q-Askey scheme together with their q-hypergeometric representations by three sequences x k , h k , g k of Laurent polynomials in q k , two of degree 1 and one of degree 2, satisfying certain constraints. This gives rise to a precise classification and parametrization of these families together with their limit transitions. This is displayed in a graphical scheme. We also describe the four-manifold structure underlying the scheme.