This web page was created to determine which barcode the client may be
trying to duplicate, or which type of barcode would best fit an application. The
simplest way to identify a barcode type
(symbology) is to match the
start and stop characters (designated in red) at the beginning and ending of
the following barcode examples.
Barcode for Beginners Video
Symbology |
Description |
Barcode Types |
Example of Barcode |
Code 39 |
The Code 39 barcode is the
easiest to use of alpha-numeric barcodes and is designed for character
self-checking, thus eliminating the requirement for check character
calculations. |
HIBC LIC
LOGMARS
MIL-STD-1189B
MIL-STD-129
MIL-STD-2073-1C
MIL-STD-129N |
 |
Code 128 |
Character set A
allows for uppercase characters, punctuation, numbers and several special
functions such as a return or tab. |
CANADA
POST
USPS
ISBT 128
USS Code 128
ISS Code 128 |
 |
Character set B
allows for upper and lower case letters, punctuation, numbers and a few select
functions. |
 |
GS1-128 |
Character set C
interleaves two numbers into each barcode character which makes it a very
high-density barcode. The FNC1 function (indicated
in blue) designates it as a GS1-128 symbol. The number immediately
following the FNC1 is the
Application Identifier (AI). |
UCC 128
EAN 128
SSCC-18
SCC-14
GTIN (EAN14) |
 |
UPCa |
The Universal Product Code
(UPC) barcode is used in the retail industry. UPC-A consists of 12 numbers. |
UPC
UCC12 |
 |
UPCe |
UPC-E consists of 12 numbers
that are compressed into 8 numbers for small packages. |
 |
EAN13 |
The European Article
Numbering System (EAN) is a superset of U.P.C. EAN-13 consists of 13 numbers. |
ISBN
ISSN
Bookland
JAN |
 |
EAN8 |
The European Article
Numbering System (EAN) is a superset of U.P.C. EAN-8 and consists of 8 digits
for small packages. |
 |
Interleaved 2 of 5 |
Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF) is
a numeric-only barcode used for encoding pairs of numbers in a high density
barcode format similar to code 128 character set C. |
ITF-14
EAN-14
SCC-14
GTIN
DUN14
USPS |
 |
Codabar |
The symbology of the Codabar
character set consists of barcode symbols representing characters 0-9, letters A
to D and the following symbols: - . $ / +. |
Rationalized
Codabar
USD-4
NW-7
2 of 7 Code |
 |
Industrial 2 of 5 |
The symbology of the
Industrial Code 2 of 5 character set consists of barcode symbols representing
the numbers 0-9, the start character and the stop character.
|
Code 2 of 5
|
 |
Code 11 |
The symbology of the Code 11
character set consists of barcode symbols representing the numbers 0-9, a dash
symbol, the start character and the stop character. |
|
 |
Code 93 |
The symbology of the Code 93
character set consists of barcode symbols representing characters 0-9, A-Z, the
space character and the following symbols: /, + , %, - , . , $ . |
|
 |
GS1 DataBar |
GS1 DataBar is capable of
encoding up to 20,000,000,000,000 (20 trillion) values. |
|
 |
DataBar Expanded |
GS1 DataBar Expanded is a
variable length, expanded version of the DataBar symbology capable of encoding
the 14 digit GTIN and additional data. |
|
 |
DataBar Expanded Stacked |
GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked
Omni-directional has the exact same data characteristics as GS1 DataBar
Expanded, except that it may be stacked to decrease width and increase height. |
|
 |
DataBar Omni-Directional Stacked |
GS1 DataBar Stacked
Omni-Directional has the exact same data characteristics as GS1 DataBar. This
symbol is approved for POS use after 1-1-2010. |
|
 |
DataBar Truncated |
GS1 DataBar Truncated has
the exact same data characteristics as the GS1 DataBar barcode, except the bar
height is set to the minimum height of 13 times the X dimension.
|
|
 |
GS1 DataBar Limited |
GS1 DataBar Limited has the
same data characteristics as the GS1 DataBar barcode, except that it may only
include values up to 4,000,000,000,000 (4 trillion). |
|
 |
GS1 DataBar Coupon Code |
GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked Omni-directional as a coupon.
Coupon Code Tutorial |
|
 |
MSI Plessey |
The MSI Plessey barcode was
designed in the 1970s by the Plessey Company in England and has been used
primarily in libraries and retail applications. |
MSI Code
Pulse Width Modulated Barcode |
 |
POSTNET |
The POSTNET (Postal Numeric
Encoding Technique) barcode is a special barcode developed by the US Post Office
to encode zip code information. |
Zip
Zip + 4
DPBC |
 |
PLANET |
The U.S. Postal Service uses
a special barcode called PLANET to track letter-size mail electronically |
USPS CONFIRM |
 |
USPS IMb |
A 4 state height-modulated
barcode designed for use in high speed, automated, mail sorting machines that
allow both Planet and Postnet barcode information to be combined into a single
symbol. |
4-State Customer
Barcode
4CB or 4-CB
OneCode Solution Barcode
USPS4CB |
 |
MICR E13B |
The MICR E13B font is a
special font that is used on bank checks and drafts in the United States,
Canada, Puerto Rico, Panama, UK, and a few other countries to print MICR
characters for magnetic recognition and optical character recognition systems. |
|
 |
MICR CMC7 |
The MICR CMC-7 font is a
special font that is used on bank checks in Mexico, France, Spain and most
Spanish speaking countries. |
|
 |
OCRa
OCRb
|
The OCR-A and OCR-B
character sets contain both upper and lower case letters, numbers, and several
special characters. The OCR-A font characters were created from ANSI X3.17-1981
specifications and the OCR-B font characters were created from ANSI X3.49-1982
specifications.
|
OCR-B1 Eurobanking
OCR-A1 Eurobanking |
 |
PDF417 |
The PDF-417 symbology uses
Reed Solomon error correction, the printed PDF417 barcode symbol can withstand
damage without causing loss of data. |
|
 |
Data Matrix
ECC200 |
Data Matrix ECC200 is a very
area efficient 2D barcode
symbology that uses a unique square module perimeter pattern that helps the
barcode scanner determine cell locations. It can encode
GS1 data, letters, numbers, text and actual data bytes. This symbol can
withstand damage without causing loss of data. |
|
 |
Maxi Code |
MaxiCode is
a two-dimensional matrix barcode symbology containing hexagon modules in a 1"
square area. MaxiCode is
used by UPS (United Parcel Service) on packing slips for sorting and
addressing packages. |
|
 |
Aztec
|
Aztec is an area efficient
2D barcode symbology that can encode letters, numbers, text and actual bytes of
data, including Unicode and extended characters, plus small photos.
|
|

|
QR-Code |
QR-Code is an efficient,
two-dimensional (2D) barcode symbology that allows easy encoding of
MECARD
data including phone numbers and web URLs. This symbol can withstand damage
without causing loss of data. |
|
 |