diff --git a/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tips.cpp b/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tips.cpp
index 2dfbe277526..d882bdb1d88 100644
--- a/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tips.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tips.cpp
@@ -53,15 +53,15 @@ TipLabel::TipLabel(QWidget *parent) :
 {
 }
 
-void TipLabel::setHelpId(const QString &id)
+void TipLabel::setContextHelp(const QVariant &help)
 {
-    m_helpId = id;
+    m_contextHelp = help;
     update();
 }
 
-QString TipLabel::helpId() const
+QVariant TipLabel::contextHelp() const
 {
-    return m_helpId;
+    return m_contextHelp;
 }
 
 const QMetaObject *TipLabel::metaObject() const
@@ -113,9 +113,9 @@ bool ColorTip::canHandleContentReplacement(int typeId) const
     return typeId == ToolTip::ColorContent;
 }
 
-bool ColorTip::equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QString &otherHelpId) const
+bool ColorTip::equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QVariant &otherContextHelp) const
 {
-    return typeId == ToolTip::ColorContent && otherHelpId == helpId() && other == m_color;
+    return typeId == ToolTip::ColorContent && otherContextHelp == contextHelp() && other == m_color;
 }
 
 void ColorTip::paintEvent(QPaintEvent *event)
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ bool TextTip::isInteractive() const
 
 void TextTip::configure(const QPoint &pos, QWidget *w)
 {
-    if (helpId().isEmpty())
+    if (contextHelp().isNull())
         setText(m_text);
     else
         setText(QString::fromLatin1("<table><tr><td valign=middle>%1</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;"
@@ -201,9 +201,10 @@ int TextTip::showTime() const
     return 10000 + 40 * qMax(0, m_text.size() - 100);
 }
 
-bool TextTip::equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QString &otherHelpId) const
+bool TextTip::equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QVariant &otherContextHelp) const
 {
-    return typeId == ToolTip::TextContent && otherHelpId == helpId() && other.toString() == m_text;
+    return typeId == ToolTip::TextContent && otherContextHelp == contextHelp()
+           && other.toString() == m_text;
 }
 
 void TextTip::paintEvent(QPaintEvent *event)
@@ -280,9 +281,9 @@ bool WidgetTip::canHandleContentReplacement(int typeId) const
     return false;
 }
 
-bool WidgetTip::equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QString &otherHelpId) const
+bool WidgetTip::equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QVariant &otherContextHelp) const
 {
-    return typeId == ToolTip::WidgetContent && otherHelpId == helpId()
+    return typeId == ToolTip::WidgetContent && otherContextHelp == contextHelp()
             && other.value<QWidget *>() == m_widget;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tips.h b/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tips.h
index 764e10eb8ae..22415075ab8 100644
--- a/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tips.h
+++ b/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tips.h
@@ -46,15 +46,15 @@ public:
     virtual int showTime() const = 0;
     virtual void configure(const QPoint &pos, QWidget *w) = 0;
     virtual bool canHandleContentReplacement(int typeId) const = 0;
-    virtual bool equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QString &helpId) const = 0;
-    virtual void setHelpId(const QString &id);
-    virtual QString helpId() const;
+    virtual bool equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QVariant &contextHelp) const = 0;
+    virtual void setContextHelp(const QVariant &help);
+    virtual QVariant contextHelp() const;
 
 protected:
     const QMetaObject *metaObject() const override;
 
 private:
-    QString m_helpId;
+    QVariant m_contextHelp;
 };
 
 class TextTip : public TipLabel
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public:
     void configure(const QPoint &pos, QWidget *w) override;
     bool canHandleContentReplacement(int typeId) const override;
     int showTime() const override;
-    bool equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QString &otherHelpId) const override;
+    bool equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QVariant &otherContextHelp) const override;
     void paintEvent(QPaintEvent *event) override;
     void resizeEvent(QResizeEvent *event) override;
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public:
     void configure(const QPoint &pos, QWidget *w) override;
     bool canHandleContentReplacement(int typeId) const override;
     int showTime() const override { return 4000; }
-    bool equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QString &otherHelpId) const override;
+    bool equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QVariant &otherContextHelp) const override;
     void paintEvent(QPaintEvent *event) override;
 
 private:
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public:
     void configure(const QPoint &pos, QWidget *w) override;
     bool canHandleContentReplacement(int typeId) const override;
     int showTime() const override { return 30000; }
-    bool equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QString &otherHelpId) const override;
+    bool equals(int typeId, const QVariant &other, const QVariant &otherContextHelp) const override;
     bool isInteractive() const override { return true; }
 
 private:
diff --git a/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tooltip.cpp b/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tooltip.cpp
index 42ce6b5c565..de3c536c5fe 100644
--- a/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tooltip.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tooltip.cpp
@@ -62,36 +62,36 @@ ToolTip *ToolTip::instance()
     return &tooltip;
 }
 
-void ToolTip::show(const QPoint &pos, const QString &content, QWidget *w, const QString &helpId, const QRect &rect)
+void ToolTip::show(const QPoint &pos, const QString &content, QWidget *w, const QVariant &contextHelp, const QRect &rect)
 {
     if (content.isEmpty())
         instance()->hideTipWithDelay();
     else
-        instance()->showInternal(pos, QVariant(content), TextContent, w, helpId, rect);
+        instance()->showInternal(pos, QVariant(content), TextContent, w, contextHelp, rect);
 }
 
-void ToolTip::show(const QPoint &pos, const QColor &color, QWidget *w, const QString &helpId, const QRect &rect)
+void ToolTip::show(const QPoint &pos, const QColor &color, QWidget *w, const QVariant &contextHelp, const QRect &rect)
 {
     if (!color.isValid())
         instance()->hideTipWithDelay();
     else
-        instance()->showInternal(pos, QVariant(color), ColorContent, w, helpId, rect);
+        instance()->showInternal(pos, QVariant(color), ColorContent, w, contextHelp, rect);
 }
 
-void ToolTip::show(const QPoint &pos, QWidget *content, QWidget *w, const QString &helpId, const QRect &rect)
+void ToolTip::show(const QPoint &pos, QWidget *content, QWidget *w, const QVariant &contextHelp, const QRect &rect)
 {
     if (!content)
         instance()->hideTipWithDelay();
     else
-        instance()->showInternal(pos, QVariant::fromValue(content), WidgetContent, w, helpId, rect);
+        instance()->showInternal(pos, QVariant::fromValue(content), WidgetContent, w, contextHelp, rect);
 }
 
-void ToolTip::show(const QPoint &pos, QLayout *content, QWidget *w, const QString &helpId, const QRect &rect)
+void ToolTip::show(const QPoint &pos, QLayout *content, QWidget *w, const QVariant &contextHelp, const QRect &rect)
 {
     if (content && content->count()) {
         auto tooltipWidget = new FakeToolTip;
         tooltipWidget->setLayout(content);
-        instance()->showInternal(pos, QVariant::fromValue(tooltipWidget), WidgetContent, w, helpId, rect);
+        instance()->showInternal(pos, QVariant::fromValue(tooltipWidget), WidgetContent, w, contextHelp, rect);
     } else {
         instance()->hideTipWithDelay();
     }
@@ -118,15 +118,15 @@ bool ToolTip::pinToolTip(QWidget *w, QWidget *parent)
     return false;
 }
 
-QString ToolTip::contextHelpId()
+QVariant ToolTip::contextHelp()
 {
-    return instance()->m_tip ? instance()->m_tip->helpId() : QString();
+    return instance()->m_tip ? instance()->m_tip->contextHelp() : QVariant();
 }
 
 bool ToolTip::acceptShow(const QVariant &content,
                          int typeId,
                          const QPoint &pos,
-                         QWidget *w, const QString &helpId,
+                         QWidget *w, const QVariant &contextHelp,
                          const QRect &rect)
 {
     if (isVisible()) {
@@ -135,9 +135,9 @@ bool ToolTip::acceptShow(const QVariant &content,
             QPoint localPos = pos;
             if (w)
                 localPos = w->mapFromGlobal(pos);
-            if (tipChanged(localPos, content, typeId, w, helpId)) {
+            if (tipChanged(localPos, content, typeId, w, contextHelp)) {
                 m_tip->setContent(content);
-                m_tip->setHelpId(helpId);
+                m_tip->setContextHelp(contextHelp);
                 setUp(pos, w, rect);
             }
             return false;
@@ -169,9 +169,9 @@ void ToolTip::setUp(const QPoint &pos, QWidget *w, const QRect &rect)
 }
 
 bool ToolTip::tipChanged(const QPoint &pos, const QVariant &content, int typeId, QWidget *w,
-                         const QString &helpId) const
+                         const QVariant &contextHelp) const
 {
-    if (!m_tip->equals(typeId, content, helpId) || m_widget != w)
+    if (!m_tip->equals(typeId, content, contextHelp) || m_widget != w)
         return true;
     if (!m_rect.isNull())
         return !m_rect.contains(pos);
@@ -243,9 +243,9 @@ void ToolTip::hideTipImmediately()
 }
 
 void ToolTip::showInternal(const QPoint &pos, const QVariant &content,
-                           int typeId, QWidget *w, const QString &helpId, const QRect &rect)
+                           int typeId, QWidget *w, const QVariant &contextHelp, const QRect &rect)
 {
-    if (acceptShow(content, typeId, pos, w, helpId, rect)) {
+    if (acceptShow(content, typeId, pos, w, contextHelp, rect)) {
         QWidget *target = nullptr;
         if (HostOsInfo::isWindowsHost())
             target = QApplication::desktop()->screen(Internal::screenNumber(pos, w));
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ void ToolTip::showInternal(const QPoint &pos, const QVariant &content,
                 break;
         }
         m_tip->setContent(content);
-        m_tip->setHelpId(helpId);
+        m_tip->setContextHelp(contextHelp);
         setUp(pos, w, rect);
         qApp->installEventFilter(this);
         showTip();
diff --git a/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tooltip.h b/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tooltip.h
index d78623b41ff..8a4a0e83096 100644
--- a/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tooltip.h
+++ b/src/libs/utils/tooltip/tooltip.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <QPointer>
 #include <QTimer>
 #include <QRect>
+#include <QVariant>
 
 /*
  * In its current form QToolTip is not extensible. So this is an attempt to provide a more
@@ -72,13 +73,13 @@ public:
     static ToolTip *instance();
 
     static void show(const QPoint &pos, const QString &content, QWidget *w = nullptr,
-                     const QString &helpId = QString(), const QRect &rect = QRect());
+                     const QVariant &contextHelp = {}, const QRect &rect = QRect());
     static void show(const QPoint &pos, const QColor &color, QWidget *w = nullptr,
-                     const QString &helpId = QString(), const QRect &rect = QRect());
+                     const QVariant &contextHelp = {}, const QRect &rect = QRect());
     static void show(const QPoint &pos, QWidget *content, QWidget *w = nullptr,
-                     const QString &helpId = QString(), const QRect &rect = QRect());
+                     const QVariant &contextHelp = {}, const QRect &rect = QRect());
     static void show(const QPoint &pos, QLayout *content, QWidget *w = nullptr,
-                     const QString &helpId = QString(), const QRect &rect = QRect());
+                     const QVariant &contextHelp = {}, const QRect &rect = QRect());
     static void move(const QPoint &pos, QWidget *w);
     static void hide();
     static void hideImmediately();
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ public:
     // using WidgetContent
     static bool pinToolTip(QWidget *w, QWidget *parent);
 
-    static QString contextHelpId();
+    static QVariant contextHelp();
 
 signals:
     void shown();
@@ -98,13 +99,13 @@ signals:
 
 private:
     void showInternal(const QPoint &pos, const QVariant &content, int typeId, QWidget *w,
-                      const QString &helpId, const QRect &rect);
+                      const QVariant &contextHelp, const QRect &rect);
     void hideTipImmediately();
     bool acceptShow(const QVariant &content, int typeId, const QPoint &pos, QWidget *w,
-                    const QString &helpId, const QRect &rect);
+                    const QVariant &contextHelp, const QRect &rect);
     void setUp(const QPoint &pos, QWidget *w, const QRect &rect);
     bool tipChanged(const QPoint &pos, const QVariant &content, int typeId, QWidget *w,
-                    const QString &helpId) const;
+                    const QVariant &contextHelp) const;
     void setTipRect(QWidget *w, const QRect &rect);
     void placeTip(const QPoint &pos, QWidget *w);
     void showTip();
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ private:
     QRect m_rect;
     QTimer m_showTimer;
     QTimer m_hideDelayTimer;
-    QString m_helpId;
+    QVariant m_contextHelp;
 };
 
 } // namespace Utils
diff --git a/src/plugins/clangcodemodel/clanghoverhandler.cpp b/src/plugins/clangcodemodel/clanghoverhandler.cpp
index fb8b751d879..446b436325e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/clangcodemodel/clanghoverhandler.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/clangcodemodel/clanghoverhandler.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ static bool editorDocumentProcessorHasDiagnosticAt(TextEditorWidget *editorWidge
 static void processWithEditorDocumentProcessor(TextEditorWidget *editorWidget,
                                                const QPoint &point,
                                                int position,
-                                               const QString &helpId)
+                                               const Core::HelpItem &helpItem)
 {
     if (CppTools::BaseEditorDocumentProcessor *processor = editorDocumentProcessor(editorWidget)) {
         int line, column;
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ static void processWithEditorDocumentProcessor(TextEditorWidget *editorWidget,
             layout->setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0);
             layout->setSpacing(2);
             processor->addDiagnosticToolTipToLayout(line, column, layout);
-            Utils::ToolTip::show(point, layout, editorWidget, helpId);
+            Utils::ToolTip::show(point, layout, editorWidget, qVariantFromValue(helpItem));
         }
     }
 }
@@ -283,9 +283,10 @@ void ClangHoverHandler::operateTooltip(TextEditor::TextEditorWidget *editorWidge
                                        const QPoint &point)
 {
     if (priority() == Priority_Diagnostic) {
-        const Core::HelpItem helpItem = lastHelpItemIdentified();
-        const QString helpId = helpItem.isValid() ? helpItem.helpId() : QString();
-        processWithEditorDocumentProcessor(editorWidget, point, m_cursorPosition, helpId);
+        processWithEditorDocumentProcessor(editorWidget,
+                                           point,
+                                           m_cursorPosition,
+                                           lastHelpItemIdentified());
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/helpitem.h b/src/plugins/coreplugin/helpitem.h
index ef07bdbb069..1e424056c72 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/helpitem.h
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/helpitem.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <QMap>
 #include <QString>
 #include <QUrl>
+#include <QVariant>
 
 namespace Core {
 
@@ -89,3 +90,5 @@ private:
 };
 
 } // namespace Core
+
+Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(Core::HelpItem)
diff --git a/src/plugins/help/helpplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/help/helpplugin.cpp
index f0e253776b2..6b7dd0ac17f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/help/helpplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/help/helpplugin.cpp
@@ -647,12 +647,15 @@ static QUrl findBestLink(const QMap<QString, QUrl> &links)
 void HelpPluginPrivate::requestContextHelp()
 {
     // Find out what to show
-    QString contextHelpId = Utils::ToolTip::contextHelpId();
+    const QVariant tipHelpValue = Utils::ToolTip::contextHelp();
+    const HelpItem tipHelp = tipHelpValue.canConvert<HelpItem>()
+                                 ? tipHelpValue.value<HelpItem>()
+                                 : HelpItem(tipHelpValue.toString());
     IContext *context = ICore::currentContextObject();
-    if (contextHelpId.isEmpty() && context)
+    if (!tipHelp.isValid() && context)
         context->contextHelp([this](const HelpItem &item) { showContextHelp(item); });
     else
-        showContextHelp(contextHelpId);
+        showContextHelp(tipHelp);
 }
 
 void HelpPluginPrivate::showContextHelp(const HelpItem &contextHelp)
diff --git a/src/plugins/texteditor/basehoverhandler.cpp b/src/plugins/texteditor/basehoverhandler.cpp
index a94374fbbdf..72e35ba5bb3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/texteditor/basehoverhandler.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/texteditor/basehoverhandler.cpp
@@ -159,9 +159,10 @@ void BaseHoverHandler::operateTooltip(TextEditorWidget *editorWidget, const QPoi
     if (m_toolTip.isEmpty())
         Utils::ToolTip::hide();
     else
-        Utils::ToolTip::show(point, m_toolTip, editorWidget, m_lastHelpItemIdentified.isValid()
-                             ? m_lastHelpItemIdentified.helpId()
-                             : QString());
+        Utils::ToolTip::show(point,
+                             m_toolTip,
+                             editorWidget,
+                             qVariantFromValue(m_lastHelpItemIdentified));
 }
 
 } // namespace TextEditor
diff --git a/src/plugins/texteditor/texteditor.cpp b/src/plugins/texteditor/texteditor.cpp
index 4e9de84f103..7f9ad3b5f33 100644
--- a/src/plugins/texteditor/texteditor.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/texteditor/texteditor.cpp
@@ -3565,7 +3565,7 @@ bool TextEditorWidget::viewportEvent(QEvent *event)
         RefactorMarker refactorMarker = d->m_refactorOverlay->markerAt(pos);
         if (refactorMarker.isValid() && !refactorMarker.tooltip.isEmpty()) {
             ToolTip::show(he->globalPos(), refactorMarker.tooltip,
-                          viewport(), QString(), refactorMarker.rect);
+                          viewport(), {}, refactorMarker.rect);
             return true;
         }