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Barcode - Symbologies
All Barcode Symbologies

Barcode Symbologies – a more complete list


Since the type of barcode can vary by application, industry or even be proprietary by company, there is no definitive list of the barcode symbologies in use in the United States. Here is a partial list of the most common barcode symbologies currently in use, with a brief description of each:

Numeric-Only Character Set Barcode Symbologies:
Ames Code: Proprietary to Ames Color File Corp, Similar to Codabar
CodabarUsed in Libraries, blood banks, and express air parcel applications
Code 11Older, High density code for electronics
EAN-13European Article Numbering, international retail product code
EAN-8Article Numbering, compressed version for small products
Interleaved 2 of 5Compact density code, used in shipping, warehousing and air cargo
Meter CodeDeveloped for odometers, utility meters. The numbers make up a barcode
Nixdorf CodeEuropean predecessor to the EAN
PlesseyEnglish Barcode, Older, used for retail location labeling
PostNetUS Postal Service Standard for zip codes, height modulated not width modulated
RSS-14Reduced space symbology, 14 digit standard, Smaller UPC/EAN Code. Designed
for omni-directional scanning
RSS LimitedSame as RSS-14, but not designed for omni-directional scanning
RSS ExpandedSame as RSS-14, but includes information supplementing the UPC/EAN. Can be linear or stacked
UPC-AUniversal product code, used for all retail products in North America
UPC-ECompressed version of the UPC-A, used on smaller retail items
 
Alpha-Numeric Character Set Barcode Symbologies
Code 128Competes with Code 39, more compact
Code 39The most common non-retail barcode, the first alpha-numeric code. Buy it here...
Code 93More compact version of Code 39
93iSimilar in construction to Code 93, allows coding of different language character sets
  
Stacked 2-Dimensional Barcode Symbologies
Code 49With 2 to 8 rows, can be scanned in any order. Stores between 9 and 49 alpha-numeric characters
CodablockBased on Code 39, very low density for its size
Code 16Like Code 49, but can use up to 16 Rows, roughly doubling the amount of data stored
EAN-13 CompositeEAN-13 code with MicroPDF417 on top
PDF417Variable length with very short bar height, 912 character maximum
RSS-14 CompositeRSS-14 with MicroPDF417 on top
RSS-14 Stacked CompositeRSS-14 split in 2 pieces, with MicroPDF417 code on top
  
Matrix 2-Dimensional Barcode Symbologies
Data Matrix“Squares within a Square” code, capacity is 2335 characters
MaxiCodeDeveloped by UPS with a fixed module size and a bulls-eye, 93 character maximum
Aztec CodeCompact (89 characters) and Full Range (3067 characters) formats, developed by Welch-Allyn (now Hand-Held Products)