Types of barcodes and their usage

Barcodes have been around for more than 50 years now and have since become essential tools for data storage. They first gained traction with the use of UPC and EAN codes on products, making supermarket checkouts much faster. Since then, a lot of different barcode types have emerged, with around 30 of the most important variants being used all around the world.

The different barcode types can be categorized as one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D). While one-dimensional barcodes consist only of lines and are usually scanned horizontally with laser scanners, two-dimensional codes make use of vertical space as well and can only be scanned with devices that contain a camera, such as imager scanners or smartphones. In this article, you will discover the most popular barcode types and their characteristics.

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One-dimensional (1D) barcodes / linear barcodes

One-dimensional barcodes can only hold a very limited amount of data encoded by lines of varying widths and the spaces between them (hence they are also called linear barcodes). Since 1D barcodes can be detected by optical laser scanners, which are less costly than imager scanners, they are widely used in different industries. Of course, if your device is capable of scanning two-dimensional codes like QR, it can scan 1D barcodes as well. Your smartphone camera might actually have this functionality built in already. For commercial use, a powerful barcode scanning software is the key to efficient workflows in many different areas, be it retail, logistics, insurance, or healthcare.

Code 39

• Type: Lines with two different widths
• Max. amount of characters: Variable
• Common usage: Industrial
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 16388

Learn more about Code 39

One of the earliest examples of linear barcodes, Code 39 can only encode digits, upper-case alphabetical characters, and some special characters. It takes up quite a bit of space, which makes it unsuitable for smaller objects. This was rectified with the introduction of Code 128.

VIN Barcode

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: 17
• Common usage: Automotive
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 16388 (Code 39)

Learn more about VIN Barcodes

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) barcodes use the Code 39 symbology with a very distinct set of specifications. They are used exclusively to distinguish individual motor vehicles and consist of 17 alphanumeric characters, sometimes preceded by an “I”, which stands for “import”. VINs come with or without the corresponding barcodes, but scanning a VIN barcode instead of manually recording the long series of characters reduces error rates significantly.

PZN (Pharmazentralnummer) Barcode

• Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: 8
• Common usage: German pharmaceutical industry

A unique identifier for medicines and pharmacy-only products in Germany, typically encoded as a Code 39 barcode containing seven digits and a check digit.

Code 32

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: 8
• Common usage: Italian pharmaceutical industry

Code 32 is a linear barcode symbology specifically designed for encoding pharmaceutical products in Italy. It’s based on Code 39 and is used to encode an identification number for medication. Code 32 consists of 6 numeric characters and a check digit, typically preceded by the letter A when printed on packaging.

Code 93

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: Variable
• Common usage: Industrial

As a more compact version of Code 39, Code 93 encodes the full ASCII character set while taking up less space. It is variable in length and requires two checksums.

Code 128

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: Variable
• Common usage: Commonly used in all industries
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 15417

Learn more about Code 128

A big improvement over its predecessors, Code 128 can encode the entire ASCII character set and always includes a check digit. It comprises more data while taking up less space and is widely used in the transportation of goods.

GS1–128

Learn more about GS1-128

The GS1 barcode is a substandard of Code 128 and was heavily adopted by the industry, since it connects the data structure (GS1) with a data carrier (Code 128), encoding things like order numbers, weights, manufacturing dates, expiration dates, and storage location numbers.

Code 11

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: unlimited 
• Common usage: Telecommunications industry

Code 11 is a linear barcode symbology used primarily in telecommunications. It can encode numeric digits 0-9 and the dash character. Code 11 is one of the oldest barcode types and is known for its high density, making it suitable for applications where space is at a premium.

EAN (European Article Number)

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: 8 or 12 digits
• Common usage: Retail
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 15420

Learn more about EAN

A barcode familiar to European readers, EAN is widely used in the retail sector. It can encode up to 12 digits and is used for the International Standard Book Number (ISBN). The UPC (Universal Product Code) can be thought of as an equivalent primarily used North America. Both EAN and UPC are defined as GS1 standards.

UPC

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: 12
• Common usage: Retail, warehousing, distribution
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 15420

Learn more about UPC

UPC, short for Universal Product Code, encodes 12 numeric characters constituting a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). Its European equivalent is the EAN code. The retail sector uses it in combination with databases to connect products with prices or quantities.

Codabar

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: 16
• Common usage: Libraries, laboratories, blood banks

Learn more about Codabar

The main advantage of the Codabar code is that it is very easy to print accurately, even with inexpensive printers. It encodes up to 16 characters (the numbers 0 to 9 and some special symbols) plus 4 start and stop characters (A, B, C, D). Codabar is self-checking, which means that a failed scan will not result in inaccurate information, but in error.

ITF

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: Variable
• Common usage: Industrial, distribution

Learn more about ITF

ITF, or Interleaved 2 of 5 (also Standard Distribution Code), encodes numbers in pairs and uses both the black lines and the white space in between for higher information density. Its length is variable, but the number of numeric characters must be even  due to the pairing feature.

Industrial 2 of 5

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: Variable
• Common usage: Distribution, air travel

Industrial 2 of 5 is similar to the ITF barcode in that out of the five black bars used to encode a digit, two are wide. A difference of the Industrial 2 of 5 symbology is that the spaces in-between the bars have a fixed width.

Standard 2 of 5 (IATA)

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: Variable
• Common usage: Air travel

As a subtype of Industrial 2 of 5, the Standard 2 of 5 barcode is used by the International Air Transport Association to encode information for processing airline cargo and is therefore also called IATA 2 of 5. It encodes only an even number of digits and includes a check digit.

GS1 DataBar

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: Variable
• Common usage: Retail
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 24724

Formerly known as RSS (Reduced Space Symbology), GS1 DataBar barcodes are ideal for fresh produce and small item labeling in retail environments. They encode all 14 digits of a GTIN and can include additional information like expiration dates and batch numbers through GS1 Application Identifiers.

GS1 DataBar Expanded

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: 74
• Common usage: Retail
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 24724

GS1 DataBar Expanded (formerly RSS Expanded) is used for similar applications as GS1 DataBar. It offers variable length encoding and omnidirectional scanning. It is particularly suited for dynamic retail and coupon applications.

MSI Plessey

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: 255
• Common usage: Warehousing, groceries, libraries

This simple symbology only encodes the numerals 0 to 9, with no fixed length. MSI Plessey is a variant of the Plessey code. Others include Anker Plessey and Telxon Plessey, but MSI Plessey is more widely used today, especially in the US.

Pharmaceutical Binary Codes

Pharmacode (one-track)

• Type: Lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: 6
• Common usage: Pharmaceutical industry

A simple binary code used in pharmaceutical packaging that encodes a number from 3 to 131,070 using vertical bars of varying widths.

Pharmacode (two-track)

• Type: Lines with different heigths
• Max. amount of characters: 8
• Common usage: Pharmaceutical industry

A binary barcode symbology used in the pharmaceutical industry that represents a number from 4 to 64,570,080 using short and tall bars positioned above or below a midline.

4-State Customer Codes

Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb)

• Type: Lines with different heights
• Max. amount of characters: 31
• Common usage: Postal services

Learn more about IMb

Developed by the United States Postal Service as a successor to the POSTNET and PLANET barcodes, the Intelligent Mail barcode is used to sort and track letters, cards, and flats. It comprises 65 bars in one of four different states, which together encode up to 31 digits. In contrast to other 1D barcodes, it is not the width but the height of the bars that encodes information.

Royal Mail 4-State Customer Code (RM4SCC)

• Type: Lines with different heights
• Max. amount of characters: 36
• Common usage: Postal services

Created by the Royal Mail in the 1990s, the RM4SCC was the first 4-state customer code symbology to be introduced for streamlining the routing and tracking of mail. It inspired the barcode’s use by other postal services around the world.

Klant Index Barcode (KIX)

• Type: Lines with different heights
• Max. amount of characters: 12
• Common usage: Postal services

A slightly altered version of the RM4SCC used by the Dutch PostNL. It lacks start and stop characters as well as the checksum.

Australia Post 4-State Customer Code

• Type: Lines with different heights
• Max. amount of characters: 14
• Common usage: Postal services

A variation of the RM4SCC used by the Australian postal service. It comes in three different formats (Standard Customer Barcode, Customer Barcode 2, and Customer Barcode 3) and features Reed-Solomon error correction.

Japan Post 4-State Customer Code

• Type: Lines with different heights
• Max. amount of characters: 24
• Common usage: Postal services

Also know as the Kasutama Barcode (with “Kasutama” being the Katakana version of the English word “customer”), this barcode was created for the Japanese postal system to encode addresses on mail for faster automatic processing.

Two-dimensional (2D) barcodes / matrix codes

Two-dimensional barcodes consist of a grid of pixels that can have either an on (black) or off (white) state. These pixels usually have a fixed width and height. A visual anchor, called a marker or symbology, makes it easier for the reading devices to detect the code. An example of this are the corners of a QR code. Other types of markers include the central squares of the Aztec code or the black lines of the Data Matrix code.

Since 2D codes are scanned horizontally and vertically (hence two-dimensional), they can store more data while using less space and have a high fault tolerance. This means that they provide accurate data, even in less than ideal lighting conditions or if the code itself is damaged. Unfortunately, 2D codes cannot be read by the laser scanners used for 1D barcodes, so an imager scanner is required instead.

PDF417

• Type: Stacked lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: Variable
• Common usage: Transportation, ticketing, driver’s licenses, visas, ID cards
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 15438

Learn more about PDF417

Unlike most 2D barcodes, PDF417 codes are actually multiple linear barcodes stacked on top of each other. They are used by the United States Postal Service for postage and by the Department of Homeland Security for driver’s licenses and identification cards.

PDF417 codes consist of a start pattern (left) and end pattern (right), with the information itself encoded in the middle section. The dimensions of the barcode are variable, making it very versatile.

MicroPDF417 Code

• Type: Stacked lines with different widths
• Max. amount of characters: Variable 
• Common usage: Logistics, warehousing
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 24728

MicroPDF417 is a two-dimensional stacked barcode symbology designed to encode a moderate amount of data in a very small space. It’s based on the PDF417 barcode but offers a more compact symbol size, capable of storing up to 250 alphanumeric characters or 366 numeric digits. MicroPDF417 uses Reed-Solomon error correction, allowing for data recovery even if parts of the barcode are damaged.

Data Matrix

• Type: Pixel matrix with an L-shaped border as a marker
• Max. amount of characters: 3116
• Common usage: Aerospace, automotive, electronics
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 16022

Learn more about Data Matrix

A two-dimensional code consisting of black (on) and white (off) cells that comprise the eponymous matrix. The dark, L-shaped border defines the code’s orientation, while the alternating patterns on the opposite sides enumerate the rows and columns. Depending on its size, it can store more than 3000 characters, which means that a relatively large amount of data can be stored on a very small area. Applied through permanent marking, the code can help to identify spare parts throughout their whole lifespan.

GS1 Data Matrix Code

• Type: Pixel matrix with an L shaped border as a marker
• Max. amount of characters: 2,334
• Common usage: Healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, retail
• IOS/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 16022

The GS1 version of the standard Data Matrix code is tailored for the pharmaceutical industry. It facilitates the encoding of data such as batch numbers and expiration dates on medicinal products, enhancing traceability and counterfeiting protection.

Learn more about GS1 Data Matrix

MaxiCode

• Type: Pixel matrix with a marker in the center
• Max. amount of characters: variable
• Common usage: UPS
• IOS/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 16023

MaxiCode is a two-dimensional barcode consisting of a distinctive bull’s-eye pattern surrounded by a hexagonal array of dots. It was developed by UPS for package tracking and can encode up to 93 characters. MaxiCode is optimized for high-speed sorting and can be read omnidirectionally.

NTIN

• Type: Pixel matrix with an L-shaped border as a marker
• Max. amount of characters: 3116
• Common usage: Pharmaceutical industry
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 16022 (Data Matrix)

These Data Matrix codes are printed on medicine packages to prevent drug counterfeiting. They combine 8-digit national product registration numbers with a global, 4-digit GTIN prefix. Before selling any medicine, pharmacists scan the NTIN (National Trade Item Number) barcode to ensure that the product is authentic and has not been tampered with.

PPN

• Type: Pixel matrix with an L-shaped border as a marker
• Max. amount of characters: 3116
• Common usage: Pharmaceutical industry
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 16022 (Data Matrix)

Learn more about PPN codes

The PPN (Pharmacy Product Number) was created to make medicine packages identifiable worldwide and to prevent drug counterfeiting. As with the NTIN (National Trade Item Number), it is encoded by a Data Matrix code and encompasses the Product Registration Agency Code, the national registration number, and two check digits.

Royal Mail Mailmark

• Type: Pixel matrix with an L-shaped border as a marker
• Max. amount of characters: 3116
• Common usage: Postal system
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 16022 (Data Matrix)

Learn more about Royal Mail Mailmark

A barcode exclusively used in the UK that functions as postage but also gives companies various insights into their mail data. They are available only via Royal Mail franking machines.

Aztec Code

• Type: Pixel matrix with a marker in the center
• Max. amount of characters: 3832
• Common usage: Transportation, healthcare
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 24778

Learn more about Aztec Code

The Aztec Code derives its name from the square located in the middle, resembling an Aztec pyramid. It eliminates the need for a so-called “quiet zone” around the edges, saving space. Aztec code is read in a spiral pattern starting from the center, making use of the same error-checking procedure as QR codes. It is widely used in public transport, e.g., on the digital train tickets issued by the Deutsche Bahn.

QR Code

• Type: Pixel matrix with markers in the corners
• Max. amount of characters: 7089
• Common usage: Marketing, public transport, package delivery
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 18004

Learn more about QR Code

This barcode has become increasingly widespread with the rising popularity of smartphones and is easily recognizable by its three squares communicating the position to the scanning device. With just one scan, users can quickly open a website or connect to a wireless network. Recently, QR codes have also been used to encode information on Covid-19 vaccination certificates. Thanks to Reed-Solomon error correction, QR codes scan correctly even if a significant part of the matrix is missing, making them a reliable choice for ticketing and similar use cases.

Micro QR Code

• Type: Pixel matrix with marker in one corner
• Max. amount of characters: 35
• Common usage: Logistics, retail, healthcare, manufacturing
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 23941

The Micro QR Code is a QR Code variant for applications requiring a smaller footprint. It can store up to 35 numeric or 21 alphanumeric characters and is ideal for items with limited labeling space.

Learn more about Micro QR Code

rMQR Code

• Type: Pixel matrix with two markers
• Max. amount of characters: 361 
• Common usage: Retail, logistics, healthcare, transportation
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 23941

rMQR Code (Rectangular Micro QR Code) is a variant of the QR Code designed for applications where space is limited in one dimension. It maintains the core features of QR Codes but allows for rectangular shapes, making it suitable for narrow spaces like product packaging or electronic components.

GiroCode

• Type: Pixel matrix with markers in the corner
• Max. amount of characters: 7089
• Common usage: Financial transactions
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 18004 (QR Code)

Learn more about GiroCodes

Financial transactions within the EU can be rapidly processed via GiroCodes (also called EPC QR Codes). They are standardized by the European Payments Council and contain all data required for SEPA credit transfers. Scanning these barcodes eliminates the need to manually enter long IBANs, which can be error-prone.

Swiss QR Code

• Type: Pixel matrix with markers in the corner
• Max. amount of characters: 997
• Common usage: Financial transactions
• ISO/IEC certification: ISO/IEC 18004 (QR Code)

As part of QR invoices in Switzerland, Swiss QR Codes allow for quick and easy payments using a machine-readable format. The contents of the code are as follows: Currency, amount, IBAN, account owner, payer details, reference, and a free text field for additional information.

UDI Code

• Type: Pixel matrix with an L-shaped border as a marker
• Max. amount of characters: variable
• Common usage: Healthcare

The UDI (Unique Device Identification Code) system uses 1D or 2D barcodes on medical devices that encode critical information such as serial numbers and expiry dates. By improving traceability and counterfeit detection, UDI barcodes ultimately enhance patient safety.

Learn more about UDI Code

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