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Overview Linear Bar Code Symbologies (1/2)

Discover the world of linear barcode symbologies! Explore their unique characteristics and find the perfect fit for your needs. More information can be found in our barcode knowledge base and FAQ.

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Code 128

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
ASCII (128 characters) ISO-8859-1	variable	Mod 103	H>=15% of L (H>=6.5 mm!); X>= 0.19 mms (max: 1.27 mms); Pr= 1:2:3:4
Applications	Widely used in all areas; modern compact symbology; introduced 1981 by "Computer Identics"; in conjunction with FNC1 used as GS1-128 or UCC/EAN-128 for retail product marking
Notes	3 different code sets (A=upper case + ASCII control characters, B=upper + lower case characters, C=double density numeric characters); code set switching; function code characters (FNC1-4); high printing density (laser or thermo transfer printer recommended);

2 of 5 Standard

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
numeric [0..9]	variable	none defined	Pr=1:3/1:4.5
Applications	Older code (1970+); for industrial applications, warehouse sorting systems, photofinishing envelope identification, ticketing (sequentially numbered airline tickets)
Notes	Information is contained in the width of bars, self-checking code.

2 of 5 Interleaved

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
numeric [0..9]	variable	optional (Mod. 10)	X>= 0.19 mms; Pr= 1:2 - 1:3 (>2.2 if X<0.50); printing tolerance: +/- 10%
Applications	Used widely in all areas (article numbering, industrial applications...)
Notes	Information is contained in the width of bars, self-checking code; very compact because of encoding of digits in pairs (total length must be even number of digits); the 1. digit is represented by the bars, the 2. digit by the gaps

2 of 5 IATA

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
numeric [0..9]	variable	optional (Mod. 10)	X>= 0.19 mms; Pr= 1:2 - 1:3; high printing tolerance: +/- 15 to 20%
Applications	Numbering of luggage in air transport ("International Air Transport Agency")
Notes	Self-checking code; start/stop-characters identical to 2 of 5 Industry; supports distance reading (> 1m) and very simple print techniques

3 of 9 (Code 39)

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
[A-Z] [0-9] [ - . $ / + % ]	variable (avg. up to 20 chars)	optional (Mod. 43)	H>=15% of L (H>=6.3 mm!); X>= 0.19 mms; Pr= 1:2 - 1:3 (>2.25 if X<0.5!)
Applications	Extensive application in industry, authorities and business (non-retail); covered by ANSI MH 10.8 M-1983 and MIL-STD-1189; developed 1974 by INTERMEC.
Notes	Very secure code-structure; self checking; supports multiple symbols (if first character is a space the next symbol is appended); supports distance reading (> 1m); only uppercase letters (+ special characters) can be encoded! Code 39 Basics - YouTube Video

3 of 9 Ext (ASCII)

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
ASCII (127 characters)	variable	optional (Mod. 43)	refer to Code 39
Applications	Code 39 ASCII has lower spreading because Code128 offers the same character set, but does encoding more compact.
Notes	Extension of Code39; lowercase letters and special characters are built up by pairs, e.g. "+A" = "a" (wasteful of space); scanner devices do not recognize the difference to Code 39 automatically (extra configuration!)

EAN8

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
numeric [0..9]	7 usable digits	1 check digit	font size SC2 (SC0-SC9); H=21.64mms (17.7-43.28); B=26.73mms (21.87-53.46); X= 0.33mm (0.27-0.66); variable size between 80%-200%;
Applications	European retail product marking (EAN); compressed code for products with limited label space; unique number (central managed) identifies
Notes	EAN8 data consists of 2-3 digits of country code and 4-5 digits of article code (limited numbers)

EAN8 P2

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
numeric [0..9]	7 + 2 digits	1 check digit	refer to EAN8 (parameters for article field)
Applications	For magazines and paperbacks
Notes	Identical to EAN8 but 2 additional digits (e. g. for weight, pricing) can be encoded.

EAN8 P5

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
numeric [0..9]	7 + 5 digits	1 check digit	refer to EAN8 (parameters for article field)
Applications	For magazines and paperbacks
Notes	Identical to EAN8 but 5 additional digits (e. g. for weight, pricing) can be encoded.

EAN13

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
numeric [0..9]	12 digits	1 check digit	font size SC2 (SC0-SC9); H=26.26mms (21.48-52.52); B=37.29mms (30.50-74.58); X= 0.33mms (0.27-0.66); variable size 80%-200%;
Applications	Retail product marking (European Article Numbering); number is managed by a central organization (GS1) and identifies the producer and the product; see also our FAQ.
Notes	13 digits (12 usable digits + 1 check digit); 2 digits country of origin code + 5 digits manufacturer code + 5 digits product number; IAN + JAN are identical to EAN; the encoded number is also referred to as GTIN-13

EAN13 P2

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
numeric [0..9]	12 + 2 digits	1 check digit	refer to EAN13
Applications	For magazines and paperbacks
Notes	Identical to EAN13 but 2 additional digits (e. g. for weight, pricing) can be encoded.

EAN13 P5

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
numeric [0..9]	12 + 5 digits	1 check digit	refer to EAN13
Applications	Encoding of the "ISBN"-number used for books (retail product marking)
Notes	Identical to EAN13 but 5 additional digits (containing the price of the product) can be encoded.

EAN14

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
numeric [0..9]	2 (AI) + 13 digits	1 check digit (EAN)	refer to GS1-128
Applications	Used for encoding the 14 digits GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) from the GS1 system. The first digit is the packaging indicator, the remaining 12 digits are based on the EAN-13 / UPC-12 article number followed by a check digit.
Notes	As "carrier" bar code symbology GS1-128 with AI 01 is used. EAN-14 should not be mixed up with ITF-14.

GS1-128 / EAN128

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
ASCII (128 characters)	max. 48 data characters	Mod 103	identical to Code128 but Lmax=165mm; maximum of symbol characters = 35;
Applications	Universal applicable such as for retail product marking or shipping (etc); GS1-128 has capabilities to encode not only the EAN number but also quantities, weight, price (and much more data) of the product.
Notes	GS1-128 is a subversion of Code 128 containing the FNC1 character at first position; GS1/EAN-128 has a predefined data format to encode various types of data into one symbol (FNC1 can function as separator of different data contents).

ITF-14

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio N
numeric [0..9]	13 digits	1 check digit	H=32.0mms; W=142.75mms; X=1.016mms; variable size: 50-100%; N=2.5:1; Bearer bar >= 2X; Quiet zone left/right >= 10X
Applications	The ITF-14 can represent a 14-digit article number (GTIN-14) and is usually used on transport packaging (boxes, crates, pallets...) for products in the GS1 identification system. The ITF-14 is especially suitable for direct printing on poor substrates (e.g. corrugated board) in logistics. The ITF-14 should not be used for POS scanner cash registers.
Notes	The code is based on Code 2of5 Interleaved, but has an additional bearer bar. For printing methods requiring printing plates, the nominal bearer bar has a constant thickness of 4.83 millimetres (0.190 inch) and must completely surround the symbol; in all other cases a horizontal bearer with a minimum of twice the module width is sufficient. Note that the left and right quiet zones must be at least 12 times the module width, otherwise the rectangular bearer bar will not be activated. Further information can be found here.

UPC Version A

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
numeric [0..9]	12 digits	1 check digit	H=26.26mms (21.48-52.52); B=37.29mms (30.50-74.58); X= 0.33mms (0.27-0.66); variable size; tolerances: 15-30% (0.05-0.1mms)
Applications	Retail product marking (use with point-of- sale cash register systems); assignment of numbers is controlled by GS1 to identify the manufacturer and the product;
Notes	The number has 12 digits (11 usable digits + 1 check digit) that consists of 1 system digit + 5 digits manufacturer code + 5 digits product number; the encoded number is also referred to as GTIN-12.

UPC Version E

Character Set	Length	Check Digit	Size, Module Width X, Print Ratio
numeric [0..9]	7 digits	1 check digit	1;2;3;4;1;2;3;4
Applications	Retail product marking and small article bar-coding.
Notes	The code must begin with “0” or “1”. TBarCode: The check-digit is computed automatically if it is not specified in the input data (that is when only 7 digits are used for creating the code).

Definition of colored elements in above barcodes

X ... Module width
Pr.. Print ratio
L... Width of barcode
H... Height of barcode

b ... Width of bars/spaces
e... Distance between bars
p... Distance between characters