Types of Barcodes: Choosing the Right Barcode

There are many types of barcodes. Some are tiny and store just a few digits. Others can hold paragraphs of data in a postage-stamp-sized square.

Each type of barcode comes with its own trade-offs in size, data capacity, industry requirements, and scanning performance. With such a range of options, it can be tough to determine which barcodes will best suit your products, inventory, or assets.

In this guide, we’ll start by breaking down the differences between 1D and 2D barcodes. From there, we'll take a closer look at 13 of the most widely used barcode symbologies. The goal isn’t to turn you into a barcode historian—it’s to give you enough practical information to help you narrow down your options.

One-dimensional (or 1D) barcodes systematically represent data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines. These include some of the most traditional and well-recognized barcode types, such as the UPC and EAN codes used to identify products. 1D barcodes are commonly referred to as linear barcodes.

Two-dimensional, (or 2D) barcodes encode data on both the horizontal and vertical axes. They are similar to a linear 1D barcode, but can represent more data per unit area. 2D barcodes include some newer barcode types, such as QR codes and PDF417.

Another key advantage of 2D barcodes is their error-protection formulas. These codes are designed to keep data intact and scannable – even after being ripped, scratched or damaged. This feature makes 2D barcodes uniquely suited to more intense, fast-paced scanning applications.

There is also a third type of barcode, composite codes, which combine 1D and 2D barcodes into one cohesive symbology.

Barcode scanning software running on smart devices can read 1D, 2D or composite codes – or be easily upgraded to do so. However, older dedicated scanning devices (such as laser scanners) can often only read 1D codes. Not having the right barcode scanning hardware or software to scan the code your industry uses is a common barcode scanning challenge.

Understanding more about how barcode scanners work can also help to identify the right solution for you.

What barcode types are the most common?

1D (or linear) barcodes are still the most common barcode types, typically used on retail items and product packaging. However, the increasing demand for enhanced data storage, versatility, and improved scanning capabilities is driving a noticeable shift from 1D barcodes to 2D barcodes.

Some examples of popular 1D barcodes include UPC, extensively utilized in North America, and EAN, which are more commonly found in Europe and other parts of the world.

Under the new GS1 Sunrise 2027 initiative, for example, is likely to result in the gradual phasing out of UPC and EAN barcodes. The goal is that retail POS systems can scan 2D codes (QR and Data Matrix codes) in addition to 1D codes by 2027. There will be a transition period where both types of barcode appear on packaging. Testing is already underway in 48 countries.

How many types of barcodes are there?

There are around 30 barcode symbology types currently in use, but some are used much more often than others. In this guide, we’ll go through the 13 most common types.

1D barcodes are commonly used across enterprise operations to save time and make inventory workflows more efficient.

UPC Code

UPC barcodes are used to label and scan consumer goods at points of sale around the world – mainly in the United States.

The UPC-A variation encodes twelve numerical digits. It uses the same encoding scheme as EAN-13. The difference is that UPC-A barcodes do not show the leading zero of the barcode, which is a country code indicator for North America.

UPC-E is a smaller variation that encodes only six numerical digits.

Along with making the checkout process more efficient, UPC codes help streamline inventory systems within stores and warehouses. UPCs enable accurate and efficient product tracking all the way through production to distribution.

EAN Code

EAN barcodes are also used to label consumer goods worldwide for point-of-sale scanning, primarily in Europe. They look very similar to UPC codes, and the main distinction is their geographical application. While EAN-13 (comprising 13 digits) is the default form factor, you’ll find EAN-8 (covering eight digits) barcodes on products where space is limited, like small candies.

The main advantage of EAN codes is their flexibility. EAN-13 is a high-density barcode that can encode relatively large amounts of data in a small area – while EAN-8 codes are ideal for identifying very small products or assets. EAN codes are also easy for 1D scanners to read, making the scanning process fast and seamless.

CODE 39

Code 39 barcodes (or Code 3 of 9) are used to label goods across many industries and are often found in the automotive industry and the U.S. Department of Defense. It enables the use of both digits and characters, and its name originates in the fact that it could only encode 39 characters – though in its most recent version, the character set has been increased to 43. It’s similar to, but not as compact as, the Code 128 barcode.

One limitation of Code 39 is its relatively low data density. This can mean that barcodes are incorrectly scanned. If using Code 39 barcodes, we recommend that you use a checksum to verify data integrity.

The size required for these barcodes also makes them ill-suited for very small goods and assets. However, Code 39 remains a popular and versatile choice, namely because it eliminates the need to generate a check digit – and can be decoded by almost any barcode reader.

CODE 128

Code 128 barcodes are compact, high-density codes used in logistics and transportation industries for ordering and distribution. They’re geared toward non-POS products, such as supply chain applications label units with serial shipping container codes (SSCC). Because they support any character of the ASCII 128 character set, Code 128 barcodes can store highly diversified information.

The greatest advantage of Code 128 is its high data density. These barcodes can store large amounts of linear data in compact form, making them ideally suited for identifying shipped or packaged containers and items. These strengths make Code 128 barcodes a natural choice for shipping and supply chain operations.

ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5)

ITF (or Interleaved 2 of 5) barcodes are used to label packaging materials across the globe. The most commonly used version is the ITF-14 barcode, which encodes 14 numeric digits.

One of the greatest strengths of ITF is that it can be printed directly on corrugated cardboard. As a result, this code is widely used for encoding information on product packaging. While the Interleaved 2 of 5 barcode can only encode numbers (not letters), it does not require a check digit.

CODE 93

Code 93 barcodes are used in logistics to identify packages in retail inventory, label electronic components, and even provide additional delivery information for the Canadian Post. Like Code 39, Code 93 barcodes come with full ASCII support. Along with enabling additional security within the code itself, the high density and compact size of Code 93s make them around 25% shorter than barcodes produced in Code 39.

Code 93 acts as a more compact and secure alternative to Code 39, partly thanks to its additional characters. Its small size and data redundancy make it ideal for use across a wide range of industries, from automotive to retail and logistics.

Codabar

Codabar barcodes are used by logistics and healthcare professionals, including U.S. blood banks, FedEx, photo labs and libraries. Their main benefit is that they’re easy to print and can be produced by any impact style printer – even a typewriter. Therefore, users can create many Codabar codes using consecutive numbers without the use of a computer. Codabar is a discrete, self-checking symbology that encodes up to 16 different characters with an additional 4 start/stop characters.

Advantages of Codabar barcodes include ease of scanning and self-checking, which reduces errors when entering the code. However, Codabar codes are being phased out in favor of newer code forms, which allow more data to be stored in a much smaller form. Regardless, Codabar is still commonly used across logistics, healthcare and even schools, where the code is applied to the spines of library books.

GS1 DataBar

GS1 DataBar barcodes (formerly known as Reduced Space Symbology) are used by retail outlets to identify consumer coupons, produce and perishables, as well as small objects in the healthcare industry. They are more compact than typical consumer-facing barcodes. GS1 DataBar was introduced in 2001 and has become the mandated barcode type for retail coupons in the U.S.

GS1 DataBar codes offer many potential benefits. For example, leading retailers use these compact tools to reduce point-of-sale transaction times.

MSI Plessey

MSI Plessey (or Modified Plessey) barcodes are used for inventory management in retail environments, such as labeling supermarket shelves. They’re also used across warehouses and other storage facilities to support accurate inventory checking.

MSI Plessey codes are only capable of encoding numbers, but can be produced at any length – allowing them to encode nearly any amount of data. Its binary format is also less dependable and efficient than newer, more economic barcodes.

Today, 2D barcodes are often seen in advertising, retail operations, as linking urls to websites, and on ID cards and airline ticketing. They are rapidly gaining ground. It seems likely they will eventually replace 1D barcodes for many applications.

QR Code

QR codes are most often used in tracking and marketing initiatives, such as advertisements, magazines and business cards. They are flexible in size, offer a high fault tolerance and have fast readability, though they can’t be read with a laser scanner. QR codes support four different modes of data: numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, and even Kanji. They are public domain and free to use.

Data Matrix Code

Data Matrix codes are usually used to label small items, goods and documents. Their tiny footprint makes them ideal for small products in logistics and operations. In fact, the U.S. Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) recommends that they be used to label small electronic components. Similar to QR codes, they have high fault tolerance and fast readability.

Data Matrix codes offer high data density, which means they take up less space on products and assets. They’re also designed to be readable even in low resolution or with unideal scanning positions. Like many other 2D barcodes, Data Matrix codes offer strong fault tolerance as well.

PDF417 Code

PDF417 codes are used for applications that require the storage of huge amounts of data, such as photographs, fingerprints and signatures. They can hold over 1.1 kilobytes of machine-readable data, making them much more powerful than other 2D barcodes. Like QR codes, PDF417 barcodes are public domain and free to use.

Thanks to their data efficiency, PDF417 codes are suited to a wide variety of applications, including transportation and inventory management. These barcodes are also well suited for creating paper boarding passes, as well as state-issued identification cards.

Aztec Code

Aztec codes are commonly used by the transportation industry, particularly for tickets and airline boarding passes. The barcodes can still be decoded even if they have bad resolution, making them useful when tickets are printed poorly or presented on a phone. They can also take up less space because they don’t require a surrounding blank “quiet zone,” unlike some other 2D barcode types.

Aztec barcodes are extremely space-efficient. They can hold massive amounts of data while maintaining a relatively small size – and feature excellent error correction to prevent scanning errors. And while these codes don’t support the same range of characters as QR codes, they remain a powerful tool for transportation, healthcare and other industries.

Now that you have a better understanding of the most common 1D and 2D barcode types and how they’re being used today, here are some questions you can ask yourself to find the right types of barcodes for your enterprise or small business.

1. What type of barcode do retail stores use?

• Retail stores generally use UPC and EAN barcodes. These are ideal for point-of-sale scanning in retail.

2. Which character set needs to be supported?

• Define what character set you need to support to help choose the right barcode. Some barcodes only support a limited character set whereas others support a wide range. A UPC-E code only supports 6 numerical digits, for example, whereas a QR code supports up to 4296 alphanumeric characters, 7089 numerical characters, 1817 Kanji characters, or 2953 bytes of information, and any ASCII character.

3. How much space is available on the packaging?

• The amount of space available to print your barcode varies widely depending on your industry and use case. For example, think of the difference between cosmetics packaging and a shipping label. If you're printing in limited space, EAN8, UPC-E, CODE 128 and Data Matrix Codes all have small form factors.

4. Which material will you print the barcode on?

• The material you will print your barcode on may influence your choice. ITF is great for printing barcodes on corrugated cardboard.

5. Which barcode type supports the largest amounts of data?

• To store large amounts of data, choose a 2D barcode, such as PDF417, Data Matrix Codes, Aztec Codes or QR Codes.

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What is a barcode finder pattern?

A barcode finder pattern is a specific part of a barcode designed to help barcode scanners locate and orient the barcode within the field of view. For example, the three large squares you’re probably used to seeing in the corners of QR codes are a finder pattern.

Different types of barcodes have different finder patterns, but they all perform a similar function. They do not encode data themselves, but act as reference points that allow barcode scanning software to detect position, size, and rotation.

These variations can then be adjusted for, enabling scanning algorithms to scan the barcode accurately.

Without finder patterns, barcode scanning software would struggle to cope with real-world conditions where barcodes appear at different sizes and angles, depending on how the user positions their smart device.

What is a barcode quiet zone?

A barcode quiet zone is the empty space surrounding a barcode. Without a quiet zone, barcode scanners may misinterpret surrounding text or images as part of a barcode. This can lead to errors or failed scans.

Quiet zones should match the colour of the spaces within your barcode. (Usually, this is white).

The minimum required quiet zone varies from barcode to barcode but is usually defined in proportion to the size of a line or square within the barcode pattern. For example, the minimum quiet zone for a QR code needs to be four times the width of the smallest square within the QR code. To allow for printing tolerance, it’s also a good idea to add a few extra millimeters to your quiet zone.

Don’t guess — check quiet zone industry standards for whatever barcode you are using as these can vary widely. Also, don’t forget that if you scale a barcode up or down, the quiet zone will need to vary in proportion.

What is the difference between UPC and EAN barcodes?

The main difference between UPC and EAN barcodes is their geographical application. EAN codes are used in Europe and worldwide, while UPC codes are used mainly in the US and Canada. Both UPC and EAN barcodes encode the Global Trade Identification Number (GTIN) of a product, and they have very similar formats.

When should you use a CODE 39 vs. a CODE 128 barcode?

Choosing between a Code 39 and a Code 128 barcode will depend on what industry you work in, how much data you need to store, and the size you plan to print barcodes at.

• Code 39 is commonly used in automotive and defense applications, while Code 128 is more common in supply chain.
• Both codes can store numbers, letters and all standard ASCII symbols and control codes. However, Code 39 can only store a maximum of 43 characters, whereas Code 128 can store up to 128 characters.
• Code 128 has a higher data density than Code 39. This means that it can be printed at smaller sizes.

How much data fits in QR codes vs. Data Matrix codes vs. PDF417 codes?

QR codes, Data Matrix codes and PDF417 codes can all encode large amounts of data, and all support any ASCII character.

• QR codes can encode up to 4296 alphanumeric characters, 7089 numerical characters, 1817 Kanji characters, or 2953 bytes of information.
• Data Matrix codes can encode up to 2335 alphanumeric characters, 3116 numerical characters, or 1556 bytes of information.
• PDF417 codes can encode up to 2335 alphanumeric characters, 3116 numerical characters, or 1556 bytes of information.

What is GS1 Digital Link?

In simple terms, GS1 Digital Link is a new standard that allows retailers to encode multiple different types of information in a single barcode.

GS1 Digital Link defines a schema for encoding data that combines URLs with product identifiers such as Global Trade Identification Numbers (GTIN) and serial numbers. These are all encoded into a single 2D barcode (such as a QR code) in a consistent, standardized way.

Different applications can scan the same barcode, but extract different data from it. A consumer could scan the code and be directed to a brand-owned webpage with product information or reviews. A point-of-sale (POS) scanner could scan the same code, but only extract the GTIN number for the purposes of inventory management.

Will 2D barcodes replace UPC/EAN codes in 2027?

No, 2D barcodes will not replace UPC/EAN codes in 2027. The goal of the GS1 Sunrise 2027 initiative is that retail POS systems will be able to scan 2D barcodes in addition to UPC/EAN codes by 2027.

After a transition period where both appear on packaging, it is likely UPC/EAN codes will start to be phased out. However, there is not a firm timeline or any hard requirement for this.