Barcode Symbologies
Browse all barcode symbologies with technical specifications and interactive tools.
1D Linear
UPC-A
12 digits
The Universal Product Code Type A is the original barcode symbology that launched the retail scanning revolution. Its 12-digit numeric …
UPC-E
8 digits
A zero-suppressed compact version of UPC-A designed for small retail items where the full-size barcode cannot fit. UPC-E compresses a …
EAN-13
13 digits
The European Article Number 13-digit barcode is the global standard for retail product identification, used in over 100 countries. It …
EAN-8
8 digits
A compact 8-digit variant of EAN-13 for products too small to carry a full-size barcode. EAN-8 codes require a special …
EAN-5 Supplement
5 digits
A 5-digit supplemental barcode printed alongside EAN-13 or UPC-A, primarily used in the book and periodical industry to encode the …
EAN-2 Supplement
2 digits
A 2-digit supplemental barcode used alongside EAN-13 to encode periodical issue numbers. Common on magazines and newspapers to identify the …
ISBN (Bookland)
13 digits
The International Standard Book Number barcode is an EAN-13 with a 978 or 979 prefix that uniquely identifies books and …
ISSN
13 digits
The International Standard Serial Number barcode identifies periodical publications — journals, magazines, and newspapers — using an EAN-13 with a …
Code 39
variable (1-80 characters)
The first barcode symbology capable of encoding the full alphanumeric character set (A-Z, 0-9, plus special characters). Code 39 is …
Code 93
variable
A higher-density improvement over Code 39 that encodes the full ASCII 128 character set using two check characters for enhanced …
Code 128
variable (1-80 characters)
The most versatile and widely used linear barcode symbology, encoding all 128 ASCII characters with the highest density available in …
Codabar (NW-7)
variable
An early self-checking barcode symbology still used in blood banking, library systems, and some FedEx applications. Codabar uses four start/stop …
ITF-14
14 digits
A 14-digit barcode standard for identifying trade items at the packaging level (cases and cartons). ITF-14 uses bearer bars — …
Interleaved 2 of 5
variable (even number of digits)
A high-density numeric-only symbology that encodes pairs of digits by interleaving one digit in the bars and the next in …
GS1-128
variable
A specialized application of Code 128 that uses GS1 Application Identifiers to encode structured supply chain data — batch numbers, …
GS1 DataBar
14 digits (GTIN)
A compact GS1 symbology designed to fit on small or irregularly shaped items like fresh produce, coupons, and pharmacy packaging. …
GS1 DataBar Expanded
variable
An extension of GS1 DataBar that supports variable-length data with Application Identifiers, enabling encoding of weight, price, lot number, and …
MSI Plessey
variable
A numeric-only barcode derived from the original Plessey Code, primarily used for supermarket shelf marking and inventory control. MSI offers …
Pharmacode
variable (1-16 bars)
A specialized binary barcode designed exclusively for pharmaceutical packaging lines to verify correct product packaging. Pharmacode encodes a single integer …
POSTNET
5, 9, or 11 digits
A height-modulated barcode used by the United States Postal Service to encode ZIP codes for automated mail sorting. POSTNET uses …
Intelligent Mail
65 bars (31-digit data string)
The current USPS mail barcode that replaced POSTNET and PLANET, encoding both routing and tracking information in a single 65-bar …
2D Matrix
Data Matrix
variable
A 2D matrix barcode that stores data in a square or rectangular pattern of black and white cells, capable of …
Aztec Code
variable
A 2D matrix barcode with a distinctive concentric square bull's-eye finder pattern at its center, eliminating the need for a …
MaxiCode
93 alphanumeric characters
A fixed-size 2D barcode using a hexagonal grid arranged around a central bull's-eye, designed by UPS for high-speed package sorting. …
DotCode
variable
A 2D matrix symbology designed for high-speed industrial printing applications where dots are more reliable than squares or lines. DotCode …
Han Xin Code
variable
A 2D matrix barcode developed in China for efficient encoding of Chinese characters (GB 18030), supporting the full CJK character …
GS1 DataMatrix
variable
A Data Matrix barcode carrying GS1 Application Identifier data, mandated for pharmaceutical serialization and medical device identification worldwide. GS1 DataMatrix …
Stacked
PDF417
variable
A stacked linear barcode encoding up to 1,850 alphanumeric characters across multiple rows, with built-in Reed-Solomon error correction. PDF417 is …
Micro PDF417
variable
A compact variant of PDF417 with reduced overhead, designed for small labels where data capacity exceeds what linear codes can …
Composite
Frequently Asked Questions
How many barcode symbologies exist?
There are over 50 published barcode symbologies, though fewer than 20 are in widespread commercial use today.
What is the most widely used barcode symbology?
EAN-13 and UPC-A are the most widely scanned in retail. Code 128 is the most common in logistics and supply chain applications.
What is the difference between 1D, 2D, and stacked barcodes?
1D barcodes encode in one dimension; 2D encodes in two dimensions for higher capacity; stacked barcodes are multiple rows of 1D symbols.
Which barcode type stores the most data?
QR Code stores up to 7,089 numeric digits or 4,296 alphanumeric characters. PDF417 stores up to 1,850 text characters or 1,108 bytes of binary.
Are barcode symbologies patented?
Most major symbologies have expired patents and are open standards. GS1 symbologies are governed by GS1 specifications available publicly.