What is a Bar Code?

A bar code (often seen as a single word, barcode) is the small image of lines (bars) and spaces that is affixed to retail store items, identification cards, and postal mail to identify a particular product number, person, or location. The code uses a sequence of vertical bars and spaces to represent numbers and other symbols. A bar code symbol typically consists of five parts: a quiet zone, a start character, data characters (including an optional check character), a stop character, and another quiet zone.


An early use of one type of barcode in an industrial context was sponsored by the Association of American Railroads in the late 1960s. Developed by General Telephone and Electronics (GTE) and called KarTrak ACI (Automatic Car Identification), this scheme involved placing colored stripes in various combinations on steel plates which were affixed to the sides of railroad rolling stock. Two plates were used per car, one on each side, with the arrangement of the colored stripes encoding information such as ownership, type of equipment, and identification number.[1] The plates were read by a trackside scanner, located for instance, at the entrance to a classification yard, while the car was moving past.[2] The project was abandoned after about ten years because the system proved unreliable after long-term use.


Barcodes became commercially successful when they were used to automate supermarket checkout systems, a task for which they have become almost universal. Their use has spread to many other tasks that are generically referred to as automatic identification and data capture (AIDC). The very first scanning of the now ubiquitous Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode was on a pack of Wrigley Company chewing gum in June 1974.

Types of barcodes

AusPost 4 State Customer Code
Aztec Code
Aztec Runes
BC412
Channel Code
Codabar
Codablock F
Code 11
Code 128
Code 16K
Code 25
Code 39
Code 39 Extended
Code 49
Code 93
Code 93 Extended
Code One
Compact Aztec Code
Compact PDF417
COOP 2 of 5
Custom 1D symbology
Custom 4 state symbology
Data Matrix
Datalogic 2 of 5
Deutsche Post Identcode
Deutsche Post Leitcode
EAN-13
EAN-13 Composite
EAN-2 (2 digit addon)
EAN-5 (5 digit addon)
EAN-8
EAN-8 Composite
Flattermarken
GS1 Composite 2D Component
GS1 Data Matrix
GS1 DataBar Expanded
GS1 DataBar Expanded Composite
GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked
GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked Composite
GS1 DataBar Limited
GS1 DataBar Limited Composite
GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional
GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional Composite
GS1 DataBar Stacked
GS1 DataBar Stacked Composite
GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional
GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional Composite
GS1 DataBar Truncated
GS1 DataBar Truncated Composite
GS1 QR Code
GS1-128
GS1-128 Composite
GS1-14
HIBC Codablock F
HIBC Code 128
HIBC Code 39
HIBC Data Matrix
HIBC MicroPDF417
HIBC PDF417
HIBC QR Code
IATA 2 of 5
Industrial 2 of 5
Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF)
ISBN
ISMN
ISSN
Italian Pharmacode
ITF-14
Japan Post 4 State Customer Code
Matrix 2 of 5
MaxiCode
Micro QR Code
MicroPDF417
Miscellaneous symbols
MSI Modified Plessey
PDF417
Pharmaceutical Binary Code
Pharmazentralnummer (PZN)
Plessey UK
PosiCode
QR Code
Royal Dutch TPG Post KIX
Royal Mail 4 State Customer Code
SSCC-18
Telepen
Telepen Numeric
Two-track Pharmacode
UPC-A
UPC-A Composite
UPC-E
UPC-E Composite
USPS Intelligent Mail
USPS PLANET
USPS POSTNET
barcode Generator home
barcode Generator
batch Barcode Generator
Bar Code
BarCode
Online Bar Code
Online Bar Code Generator
Free Bar Code Generator
Cloud Bar Code Generator
Bar Code Android Generator
BarCode Google Generator
BarCode App Generator
BarCode iPhone Generator
BarCode Scanner
BarCode Reader
Bar Generator
Scan Bar Code
Android Bar Code
Bar Code Scan
Bar Code Reader
The Bar Code
A Bar Code
Bar Code Scanner
Free Bar Code
Bar Code App
Google Bar Code
auspost 4 state customer code
aztec code
aztec runes
bc412
channel code
codabar
codablock f
code 11
code 128
code 16k
code 25
code 39
code 39 extended
code 49
code 93
code 93 extended
code one
compact aztec code
compact pdf417
coop 2 of 5
custom 1d symbology
custom 4 state symbology
data matrix
datalogic 2 of 5
deutsche post identcode
deutsche post leitcode
ean 13
ean 13 composite
ean 2 2 digit addon
ean 5 5 digit addon
ean 8
ean 8 composite
flattermarken
gs1 composite 2d component
gs1 data matrix
gs1 databar expanded
gs1 databar expanded composite
gs1 databar expanded stacked
gs1 databar expanded stacked composite
gs1 databar limited
gs1 databar limited composite
gs1 databar omnidirectional
gs1 databar omnidirectional composite
gs1 databar stacked
gs1 databar stacked composite
gs1 databar stacked omnidirectional
gs1 databar stacked omnidirectional composite
gs1 databar truncated
gs1 databar truncated composite
gs1 qr code
gs1 128
gs1 128 composite
gs1 14
hibc codablock f
hibc code 128
hibc code 39
hibc data matrix
hibc micropdf417
hibc pdf417
hibc qr code
iata 2 of 5
industrial 2 of 5
interleaved 2 of 5 itf
isbn
ismn
issn
italian pharmacode
itf 14
japan post 4 state customer code
matrix 2 of 5
maxicode
micro qr code
micropdf417
miscellaneous symbols
msi modified plessey
pdf417
pharmaceutical binary code
pharmazentralnummer pzn
plessey uk
posicode
qr code
royal dutch tpg post kix
royal mail 4 state customer code
sscc 18
telepen
telepen numeric
two track pharmacode
upc a
upc a composite
upc e
upc e composite
usps intelligent mail
usps planet
usps postnet
auspost 4 state customer code Generator
aztec code Generator
aztec runes Generator
bc412 Generator
channel code Generator
codabar Generator
codablock f Generator
code 11 Generator
code 128 Generator
code 16k Generator
code 25 Generator
code 39 Generator
code 39 extended Generator
code 49 Generator
code 93 Generator
code 93 extended Generator
code one Generator
compact aztec code Generator
compact pdf417 Generator
coop 2 of 5 Generator
custom 1d symbology Generator
custom 4 state symbology Generator
data matrix Generator
datalogic 2 of 5 Generator
deutsche post identcode Generator
deutsche post leitcode Generator
ean 13 Generator
ean 13 composite Generator
ean 2 2 digit addon Generator
ean 5 5 digit addon Generator
ean 8 Generator
ean 8 composite Generator
flattermarken Generator
gs1 composite 2d component Generator
gs1 data matrix Generator
gs1 databar expanded Generator
gs1 databar expanded composite Generator
gs1 databar expanded stacked Generator
gs1 databar expanded stacked composite Generator
gs1 databar limited Generator
gs1 databar limited composite Generator
gs1 databar omnidirectional Generator
gs1 databar omnidirectional composite Generator
gs1 databar stacked Generator
gs1 databar stacked composite Generator
gs1 databar stacked omnidirectional Generator
gs1 databar stacked omnidirectional composite Generator
gs1 databar truncated Generator
gs1 databar truncated composite Generator
gs1 qr code Generator
gs1 128 Generator
gs1 128 composite Generator
gs1 14 Generator
hibc codablock f Generator
hibc code 128 Generator
hibc code 39 Generator
hibc data matrix Generator
hibc micropdf417 Generator
hibc pdf417 Generator
hibc qr code Generator
iata 2 of 5 Generator
industrial 2 of 5 Generator
interleaved 2 of 5 itf Generator
isbn Generator
ismn Generator
issn Generator
italian pharmacode Generator
itf 14 Generator
japan post 4 state customer code Generator
matrix 2 of 5 Generator
maxicode Generator
micro qr code Generator
micropdf417 Generator
miscellaneous symbols Generator
msi modified plessey Generator
pdf417 Generator
pharmaceutical binary code Generator
pharmazentralnummer pzn Generator
plessey uk Generator
posicode Generator
qr code Generator
royal dutch tpg post kix Generator
royal mail 4 state customer code Generator
sscc 18 Generator
telepen Generator
telepen numeric Generator
two track pharmacode Generator
upc a Generator
upc a composite Generator
upc e Generator
upc e composite Generator
usps intelligent mail Generator
usps planet Generator
usps postnet Generator
Online auspost Generator
Online azteccode Generator
Online aztecrune Generator
Online bc412 Generator
Online channelcode Generator
Online rationalizedCodabar Generator
Online codablockf Generator
Online code11 Generator
Online code128 Generator
Online code16k Generator
Online code2of5 Generator
Online code39 Generator
Online code39ext Generator
Online code49 Generator
Online code93 Generator
Online code93ext Generator
Online codeone Generator
Online azteccodecompact Generator
Online pdf417compact Generator
Online coop2of5 Generator
Online raw Generator
Online daft Generator
Online datamatrix Generator
Online datalogic2of5 Generator
Online identcode Generator
Online leitcode Generator
Online ean13 Generator
Online ean13composite Generator
Online ean2 Generator
Online ean5 Generator
Online ean8 Generator
Online ean8composite Generator
Online flattermarken Generator
Online gs1 cc Generator
Online gs1datamatrix Generator
Online databarexpanded Generator
Online databarexpandedcomposite Generator
Online databarexpandedstacked Generator
Online databarexpandedstackedcomposite Generator
Online databarlimited Generator
Online databarlimitedcomposite Generator
Online databaromni Generator
Online databaromnicomposite Generator
Online databarstacked Generator
Online databarstackedcomposite Generator
Online databarstackedomni Generator
Online databarstackedomnicomposite Generator
Online databartruncated Generator
Online databartruncatedcomposite Generator
Online gs1qrcode Generator
Online gs1 128 Generator
Online gs1 128composite Generator
Online ean14 Generator
Online hibccodablockf Generator
Online hibccode128 Generator
Online hibccode39 Generator
Online hibcdatamatrix Generator
Online hibcmicropdf417 Generator
Online hibcpdf417 Generator
Online hibcqrcode Generator
Online iata2of5 Generator
Online industrial2of5 Generator
Online interleaved2of5 Generator
Online isbn Generator
Online ismn Generator
Online issn Generator
Online code32 Generator
Online itf14 Generator
Online japanpost Generator
Online matrix2of5 Generator
Online maxicode Generator
Online microqrcode Generator
Online micropdf417 Generator
Online symbol Generator
Online msi Generator
Online pdf417 Generator
Online pharmacode Generator
Online pzn Generator
Online plessey Generator
Online posicode Generator
Online qrcode Generator
Online kix Generator
Online royalmail Generator
Online sscc18 Generator
Online telepen Generator
Online telepennumeric Generator
Online pharmacode2 Generator
Online upca Generator
Online upcacomposite Generator
Online upce Generator
Online upcecomposite Generator
Online onecode Generator
Online planet Generator
Online postnet Generator
Free auspost Generator
Free azteccode Generator
Free aztecrune Generator
Free bc412 Generator
Free channelcode Generator
Free rationalizedCodabar Generator
Free codablockf Generator
Free code11 Generator
Free code128 Generator
Free code16k Generator
Free code2of5 Generator
Free code39 Generator
Free code39ext Generator
Free code49 Generator
Free code93 Generator
Free code93ext Generator
Free codeone Generator
Free azteccodecompact Generator
Free pdf417compact Generator
Free coop2of5 Generator
Free raw Generator
Free daft Generator
Free datamatrix Generator
Free datalogic2of5 Generator
Free identcode Generator
Free leitcode Generator
Free ean13 Generator
Free ean13composite Generator
Free ean2 Generator
Free ean5 Generator
Free ean8 Generator
Free ean8composite Generator
Free flattermarken Generator
Free gs1 cc Generator
Free gs1datamatrix Generator
Free databarexpanded Generator
Free databarexpandedcomposite Generator
Free databarexpandedstacked Generator
Free databarexpandedstackedcomposite Generator
Free databarlimited Generator
Free databarlimitedcomposite Generator
Free databaromni Generator
Free databaromnicomposite Generator
Free databarstacked Generator
Free databarstackedcomposite Generator
Free databarstackedomni Generator
Free databarstackedomnicomposite Generator
Free databartruncated Generator
Free databartruncatedcomposite Generator
Free gs1qrcode Generator
Free gs1 128 Generator
Free gs1 128composite Generator
Free ean14 Generator
Free hibccodablockf Generator
Free hibccode128 Generator
Free hibccode39 Generator
Free hibcdatamatrix Generator
Free hibcmicropdf417 Generator
Free hibcpdf417 Generator
Free hibcqrcode Generator
Free iata2of5 Generator
Free industrial2of5 Generator
Free interleaved2of5 Generator
Free isbn Generator
Free ismn Generator
Free issn Generator
Free code32 Generator
Free itf14 Generator
Free japanpost Generator
Free matrix2of5 Generator
Free maxicode Generator
Free microqrcode Generator
Free micropdf417 Generator
Free symbol Generator
Free msi Generator
Free pdf417 Generator
Free pharmacode Generator
Free pzn Generator
Free plessey Generator
Free posicode Generator
Free qrcode Generator
Free kix Generator
Free royalmail Generator
Free sscc18 Generator
Free telepen Generator
Free telepennumeric Generator
Free pharmacode2 Generator
Free upca Generator
Free upcacomposite Generator
Free upce Generator
Free upcecomposite Generator
Free onecode Generator
Free planet Generator
Free postnet Generator
auspost Generator
azteccode Generator
aztecrune Generator
bc412 Generator
channelcode Generator
rationalizedCodabar Generator
codablockf Generator
code11 Generator
code128 Generator
code16k Generator
code2of5 Generator
code39 Generator
code39ext Generator
code49 Generator
code93 Generator
code93ext Generator
codeone Generator
azteccodecompact Generator
pdf417compact Generator
coop2of5 Generator
raw Generator
daft Generator
datamatrix Generator
datalogic2of5 Generator
identcode Generator
leitcode Generator
ean13 Generator
ean13composite Generator
ean2 Generator
ean5 Generator
ean8 Generator
ean8composite Generator
flattermarken Generator
gs1 cc Generator
gs1datamatrix Generator
databarexpanded Generator
databarexpandedcomposite Generator
databarexpandedstacked Generator
databarexpandedstackedcomposite Generator
databarlimited Generator
databarlimitedcomposite Generator
databaromni Generator
databaromnicomposite Generator
databarstacked Generator
databarstackedcomposite Generator
databarstackedomni Generator
databarstackedomnicomposite Generator
databartruncated Generator
databartruncatedcomposite Generator
gs1qrcode Generator
gs1 128 Generator
gs1 128composite Generator
ean14 Generator
hibccodablockf Generator
hibccode128 Generator
hibccode39 Generator
hibcdatamatrix Generator
hibcmicropdf417 Generator
hibcpdf417 Generator
hibcqrcode Generator
iata2of5 Generator
industrial2of5 Generator
interleaved2of5 Generator
isbn Generator
ismn Generator
issn Generator
code32 Generator
itf14 Generator
japanpost Generator
matrix2of5 Generator
maxicode Generator
microqrcode Generator
micropdf417 Generator
symbol Generator
msi Generator
pdf417 Generator
pharmacode Generator
pzn Generator
plessey Generator
posicode Generator
qrcode Generator
kix Generator
royalmail Generator
sscc18 Generator
telepen Generator
telepennumeric Generator
pharmacode2 Generator
upca Generator
upcacomposite Generator
upce Generator
upcecomposite Generator
onecode Generator
planet Generator
postnet Generator
auspost Barcode Generator
azteccode Barcode Generator
aztecrune Barcode Generator
bc412 Barcode Generator
channelcode Barcode Generator
rationalizedCodabar Barcode Generator
codablockf Barcode Generator
code11 Barcode Generator
code128 Barcode Generator
code16k Barcode Generator
code2of5 Barcode Generator
code39 Barcode Generator
code39ext Barcode Generator
code49 Barcode Generator
code93 Barcode Generator
code93ext Barcode Generator
codeone Barcode Generator
azteccodecompact Barcode Generator
pdf417compact Barcode Generator
coop2of5 Barcode Generator
raw Barcode Generator
daft Barcode Generator
datamatrix Barcode Generator
datalogic2of5 Barcode Generator
identcode Barcode Generator
leitcode Barcode Generator
ean13 Barcode Generator
ean13composite Barcode Generator
ean2 Barcode Generator
ean5 Barcode Generator
ean8 Barcode Generator
ean8composite Barcode Generator
flattermarken Barcode Generator
gs1 cc Barcode Generator
gs1datamatrix Barcode Generator
databarexpanded Barcode Generator
databarexpandedcomposite Barcode Generator
databarexpandedstacked Barcode Generator
databarexpandedstackedcomposite Barcode Generator
databarlimited Barcode Generator
databarlimitedcomposite Barcode Generator
databaromni Barcode Generator
databaromnicomposite Barcode Generator
databarstacked Barcode Generator
databarstackedcomposite Barcode Generator
databarstackedomni Barcode Generator
databarstackedomnicomposite Barcode Generator
databartruncated Barcode Generator
databartruncatedcomposite Barcode Generator
gs1qrcode Barcode Generator
gs1 128 Barcode Generator
gs1 128composite Barcode Generator
ean14 Barcode Generator
hibccodablockf Barcode Generator
hibccode128 Barcode Generator
hibccode39 Barcode Generator
hibcdatamatrix Barcode Generator
hibcmicropdf417 Barcode Generator
hibcpdf417 Barcode Generator
hibcqrcode Barcode Generator
iata2of5 Barcode Generator
industrial2of5 Barcode Generator
interleaved2of5 Barcode Generator
isbn Barcode Generator
ismn Barcode Generator
issn Barcode Generator
code32 Barcode Generator
itf14 Barcode Generator
japanpost Barcode Generator
matrix2of5 Barcode Generator
maxicode Barcode Generator
microqrcode Barcode Generator
micropdf417 Barcode Generator
symbol Barcode Generator
msi Barcode Generator
pdf417 Barcode Generator
pharmacode Barcode Generator
pzn Barcode Generator
plessey Barcode Generator
posicode Barcode Generator
qrcode Barcode Generator
kix Barcode Generator
royalmail Barcode Generator
sscc18 Barcode Generator
telepen Barcode Generator
telepennumeric Barcode Generator
pharmacode2 Barcode Generator
upca Barcode Generator
upcacomposite Barcode Generator
upce Barcode Generator
upcecomposite Barcode Generator
onecode Barcode Generator
planet Barcode Generator
postnet Barcode Generator
auspost Barcode
azteccode Barcode
aztecrune Barcode
bc412 Barcode
channelcode Barcode
rationalizedCodabar Barcode
codablockf Barcode
code11 Barcode
code128 Barcode
code16k Barcode
code2of5 Barcode
code39 Barcode
code39ext Barcode
code49 Barcode
code93 Barcode
code93ext Barcode
codeone Barcode
azteccodecompact Barcode
pdf417compact Barcode
coop2of5 Barcode
raw Barcode
daft Barcode
datamatrix Barcode
datalogic2of5 Barcode
identcode Barcode
leitcode Barcode
ean13 Barcode
ean13composite Barcode
ean2 Barcode
ean5 Barcode
ean8 Barcode
ean8composite Barcode
flattermarken Barcode
gs1 cc Barcode
gs1datamatrix Barcode
databarexpanded Barcode
databarexpandedcomposite Barcode
databarexpandedstacked Barcode
databarexpandedstackedcomposite Barcode
databarlimited Barcode
databarlimitedcomposite Barcode
databaromni Barcode
databaromnicomposite Barcode
databarstacked Barcode
databarstackedcomposite Barcode
databarstackedomni Barcode
databarstackedomnicomposite Barcode
databartruncated Barcode
databartruncatedcomposite Barcode
gs1qrcode Barcode
gs1 128 Barcode
gs1 128composite Barcode
ean14 Barcode
hibccodablockf Barcode
hibccode128 Barcode
hibccode39 Barcode
hibcdatamatrix Barcode
hibcmicropdf417 Barcode
hibcpdf417 Barcode
hibcqrcode Barcode
iata2of5 Barcode
industrial2of5 Barcode
interleaved2of5 Barcode
isbn Barcode
ismn Barcode
issn Barcode
code32 Barcode
itf14 Barcode
japanpost Barcode
matrix2of5 Barcode
maxicode Barcode
microqrcode Barcode
micropdf417 Barcode
symbol Barcode
msi Barcode
pdf417 Barcode
pharmacode Barcode
pzn Barcode
plessey Barcode
posicode Barcode
qrcode Barcode
kix Barcode
royalmail Barcode
sscc18 Barcode
telepen Barcode
telepennumeric Barcode
pharmacode2 Barcode
upca Barcode
upcacomposite Barcode
upce Barcode
upcecomposite Barcode
onecode Barcode
planet Barcode
postnet Barcode

What size does a BarCode have to be?

Generally speaking, the larger the BarCode, the easier it is for it to be scanned, however most BarCode reading devices are able to scan images that are small enough to fit on a business card for example. This of course assumes that the quality of image is good.

BarCode File Formats

You can use the following file formats when creating a BarCode::
PNG file
JPG file
PDF file
PNG files work particularly well as they can be resized very easily, meaning that you can easily scale the QR Code depending on where you want to put it.