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Barcode Comparison Chart

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Barcode Type Character Set Length Checksum Applications/Comments

Australia Postal Code

2-D Numbers Only 4 Required Includes error correction

Aztec Code

Full ASCII; FNC1 Variable

Includes error correction; minimum is
2-D and ESI control Min 12 Required
15x15 square, largest is 151x151
codes Max 3832

Codabar Numbers: 0-9;

Symbols: - : . $ / +
Older code; often used in libraries and
Start/Stop
Linear Variable None blood banks. See also USD-4, NW-7,
Characters:
2of7
A, B, C, D, E, *, N,
or T
Code 11

Linear Numbers Only Variable Required Recommend 2nd check digit

Code 128

All ASCII characters Widely used; excellent for many

Linear Variable Required
and control codes applications

Code 39
Uppercase letters
A-Z; In very wide use for many types of
Linear Variable Optional
Numbers 0-9; applications
Space - . $ / + %

Extended Code 39
All ASCII characters Uses pairs of characters to encode
Linear Variable Optional
and control codes non-standard symbols; wasteful of space

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Code 93
Uppercase letters
A-Z; A more compact cousin of Code 39, not
Linear Variable Optional
Numbers 0-9; as widely in use
Space - . $ / + %

Composite Code
Code comprised of a PDF417 code
2-D All ASCII characters Variable Required stacked on top of a Code128; used in
UCC/EAN standards

DataMatrix

Includes error correction, up to 2335

2-D All ASCII characters Variable Required
ASCII characters

EAN-13
13 + check digit
Linear Numbers Only +2 optional Required Retail product marking world-wide
+5 optional

EAN-8
Retail product marking world-wide;
Linear Numbers Only 7 + check digit Required compressed code for products with
limited label space

EAN Bookland
13 + check digit
Special use of the EAN-13 symbol to
Linear Numbers Only +2 optional Required
encode ISBN number on books
+5 optional

Industrial 2 of 5

Linear Numbers Only Variable None Older type of code

Interleaved 2 of 5

Very compact encodes digits in pairs so

Linear Numbers Only Variable Optional
total length must be even number of digits

ITF-14 Special use of the Interleaved 2 of 5 code

(UPC Ship Container to mark shipping cartons containing UPC
Linear Numbers Only 13 + check digit Required
Code) encoded products
(see also SCC-14)

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LOGMARS
Uppercase letters
A-Z; Same as Code 39; this is the US
Linear Variable Optional
Numbers 0-9; government specification
Space - . $ / + %

Maxicode

Includes error correction, developed by

2-D All ASCII characters 93 Required the United Parcel Service for encoding
destination information

MSI
MSI Plessey

Linear Numbers Only Variable Required Grocery store shelf tags

OPC
Optical Industry Assoc.
Special use of Interleaved 2 of 5 for
Linear Numbers Only 9 + check digit Required
marking retail optical products

PDF-417

Includes error correction, up to about

2-D All ASCII characters Variable Required
1850 ASCII or 2725 numeric characters

Plessey

Linear Numbers Only Variable Required Grocery store shelf tags

Postnet 5 + check digit

USA postal code
2-D* Numbers Only +4 optional Required
(ZIP code)
+6 optional

QR Code

Includes error correction, up to about

2-D All ASCII Characters Variable Required
1520 ASCII or 2509 numeric charcters

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SCC-14
(UCC/EAN Ship Cont.
Code) Special use of Code 128 to mark shipping
Linear Numbers Only 13 + checksum Required cartons containing UPC encoded products
(see also ITF-14)

Standard 2 of 5

Linear Numbers Only Variable None Also called Industrial 2 of 5.

UCC/EAN-128

All ASCII characters Special ise of Code 128 which defines

Linear Variable Required
and control codes data formats for commerce

UCC/EAN Shipping
Container Code
(SCC-14) Special use of Code 128 to mark shipping
Linear Numbers Only 13 +check digit Required cartons containing UPC encoded products
(see also ITF-14)

UPC Shipping
Container Code
Special use of the Interleaved 2 of 5 code
(ITF-14)
to mark shipping cartons containing UPC
Linear Numbers Only 13 + check digit Required
encoded products
(see also SCC-14)

UPC-A

11 + check digit
Retail product marking in USA and
Linear Numbers Only +2 optional Required
Canada
+5 optional

UPC-E
Retail product in USA and Canada;
Linear Numbers Only 7 + check digit Required compressed code for products with
limited label space

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