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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)