Different Types of Barcodes

A Barcode Symbology defines the technical details of a particular type of barcode: the width of the bars, character set, method
of encoding, checksum specifications, etc. Most users are more interested in the general capabilities of a particular symbology
(how much and what kind of data can it hold, what are its common uses, etc) than in the excruciating technical details.

Numeric-only barcodes

Codabar: Older code often used in library systems, sometimes in blood banks
Code 11: Used primarily for labeling telecommunications equipment
EAN-13: European Article Numbering international retail product code
EAN-8: Compressed version of EAN code for use on small products
Industrial 2 of 5: Older code not in common use
Interleaved 2 of 5: Compact numeric code, widely used in industry, air cargo
MSI: Variation of the Plessey code commonly used in USA
Plessey: Older code commonly used for retail shelf marking
PostNet: Used by U.S. Postal Service for automated mail sorting
UPC-A: Universal product code seen on almost all retail products in the USA and Canada
Standard 2 of 5: Older code not in common use
UPC-E: Compressed version of UPC code for use on small products

Alpha-numeric barcodes

Code 128: Very capable code, excellent density, high reliability; in very wide use world-wide
Code 39: General-purpose code in very wide use world-wide
Code 93: Compact code similar to Code 39
LOGMARS: Same as Code 39, this is the U.S. Government specification

2-Dimensional barcodes

PDF417: Excellent for encoding large amounts of data

DataMatrix: Can hold large amounts of data, especially suited for making very small codes
Maxicode: Fixed length, used by United Parcel Service for automated package sorting
 QR Code: Used for material control and order confirmation
Data Code
Code 49
16K

Industry Standards for Barcodes and Labels

Bookland EAN encodes ISBN numbers, used internationally to mark books

ISSN and the SISAC Barcode: International Standard Serial Numbering
OPC: Optical Industry Association barcode for marking retail optical products
UCC/EAN-128: Widely used data formatting model for Code 128
UPC Shipping Container Symbol: ITF-14

Type Barcode Character Set Length Checksum Applications/Comments

Australia Postal Code

2-D Numbers Only 4 Required Includes error correction

Aztec Code

Full ASCII; FNC1 Variable

Includes error correction; minimum is
2-D and ESI control Min 12 Required
15x15 square, largest is 151x151
codes Max 3832

Codabar Numbers: 0-9;

Symbols: - : . $ / +
Older code; often used in libraries
Start/Stop
Linear Variable None and blood banks. See also USD-4,
Characters:
NW-7, 2of7
A, B, C, D, E, *, N,
or T
 Code 11

Linear Numbers Only Variable Required Recommend 2nd check digit

Code 128 All ASCII

characters
and control codes
Widely used; excellent for many
Linear Variable Required
applications

Code 39
Uppercase letters
A-Z; In very wide use for many types of
Linear Variable Optional
Numbers 0-9; applications
Space - . $ / + %

Extended Code 39

All ASCII Uses pairs of characters to encode

Linear characters Variable Optional non-standard symbols; wasteful of
and control codes space

Code 93
Uppercase letters
A-Z; A more compact cousin of Code 39,
Linear Variable Optional
Numbers 0-9; not as widely in use
Space - . $ / + %
 Composite Code

Code comprised of a PDF417 code

All ASCII
2-D Variable Required stacked on top of a Code128; used in
characters
UCC/EAN standards

DataMatrix

All ASCII Includes error correction, up to 2335

2-D Variable Required
characters ASCII characters

EAN-13

13 + check digit
Linear Numbers Only +2 optional Required Retail product marking world-wide
+5 optional

EAN-8

Retail product marking world-wide;

Linear Numbers Only 7 + check digit Required compressed code for products with
limited label space

EAN Bookland

13 + check digit
Special use of the EAN-13 symbol to
Linear Numbers Only +2 optional Required
encode ISBN number on books
+5 optional
 Industrial 2 of 5

Linear Numbers Only Variable None Older type of code

Interleaved 2 of 5

Numbers Only Very compact encodes digits in pairs

Linear Variable Optional so total length must be even number
of digits

ITF-14
(UPC Ship Container Code)
Special use of the Interleaved 2 of 5
code to mark shipping cartons
Linear Numbers Only 13 + check digit Required
containing UPC encoded products
(see also SCC-14)

LOGMARS
Uppercase letters
A-Z; Same as Code 39; this is the US
Linear Variable Optional
Numbers 0-9; government specification
Space - . $ / + %

Maxicode

Includes error correction, developed

All ASCII
2-D 93 Required by the United Parcel Service for
characters
encoding destination information
 MSI
MSI Plessey

Linear Numbers Only Variable Required Grocery store shelf tags

OPC
Optical Industry Assoc.

Special use of Interleaved 2 of 5 for

Linear Numbers Only 9 + check digit Required
marking retail optical products

PDF-417

Includes error correction, up to about

All ASCII
2-D Variable Required 1850 ASCII or 2725 numeric
characters
characters

Plessey

Linear Numbers Only Variable Required Grocery store shelf tags

Postnet
5 + check digit
USA postal code
2-D* Numbers Only +4 optional Required
(ZIP code)
+6 optional
 QR Code

Includes error correction, up to about

All ASCII
2-D Variable Required 1520 ASCII or 2509 numeric
Characters
charcters

SCC-14
(UCC/EAN Ship Cont. Code)
Special use of Code 128 to mark
shipping cartons containing UPC
Linear Numbers Only 13 + checksum Required
encoded products
(see also ITF-14)

Standard 2 of 5

Linear Numbers Only Variable None Also called Industrial 2 of 5.

UCC/EAN-128

All ASCII
Special ise of Code 128 which
Linear characters Variable Required
defines data formats for commerce
and control codes

UCC/EAN Shipping Container

Code
(SCC-14) Special use of Code 128 to mark
shipping cartons containing UPC
Linear Numbers Only 13 +check digit Required
encoded products
(see also ITF-14)
 UPC Shipping Container Code
(ITF-14)
Special use of the Interleaved 2 of 5
code to mark shipping cartons
Linear Numbers Only 13 + check digit Required
containing UPC encoded products
(see also SCC-14)

UPC-A
11 + check digit
Retail product marking in USA and
Linear Numbers Only +2 optional Required
Canada
+5 optional

UPC-E

Retail product in USA and Canada;

Linear Numbers Only 7 + check digit Required compressed code for products with
limited label space