Barcode how many digits

A barcode is a graphic symbol used to convey data. The barcode image above is an example. Please note that there are numerous other types of barcode languages. The UPC-A barcode symbol contains 12 numeric digits.

The basis of the GTIN identification system works of unique company identifiers assigned to each company. GS1 global is a standards organization that oversees the numbering and guidelines for product identification. There are local GS1 offices in over countries whose primary role is to license GS1 Company Prefixes to companies within their country. The uniqueness of brand-specific GS1 Company Prefix allows products to be accepted and recognized across the globe. The actual bars produced for both of these are identical see the picture below.

This is fine — the number is still the same and still unique and will work OK. You can let the retailer work out which version of your barcode number they will use. Follow this link to our Barcode Shop if you need to buy a barcode for your retail product.. And look here for more information about what makes Barcode1 UK different. The way a digit is encoded into every barcode is 7 blocks of either white or black making up each digit. When a digit is used on the left side, the bars are black and the spaces are white, and when it is used on the right side, the colors are reversed.

The actual system of numbering depends on the type of product and the purpose of the barcode; the first digit of the barcode indicates the numbering system. The 10 digits that follow contain information about the product, and in all of the applications described below, the digit on the far right not included in the application description is a checksum, which can be used to test the accuracy of the scanner reading.

Below is a list of common UPC-A applications:. UPC-E uses a much more complex trick to compress the checksum and the number system code. A side-effect of this technique is that the only numbering system codes allowed are 0 and 1. The GS1 prefix is issued by GS1, the international barcode standards organization.

It may identify the national GS1 member organization or a special use. Besides the national GS1 prefixes, typically used for standard retail items, there are prefixes for specialized purposes, such as coupons, refunds, serial publications magazines and newspapers , books ISBN , and sheet music ISMN. It consists of eight digits — four on the left side and four on the right. In order to use a GTIN-8 number, a manufacturer must request it from the national member organization.

RCN-8 numbers, on the other hand, are for use only on house-brand or store-label products, and can be used only within the business that issues it. If it is scanned by another retailer, it will give an incorrect reading. Code encodes the character ASCII set, which includes all of the alphabetic, numeric, punctuation, and arithmetic characters found on an English-language computer keyboard, plus several non-visible control characters. A single Code barcode can include characters from all three character sets, switching between them repeatedly.

The basic Code barcode format consists of a start code which sets the initial character set to A, B, or C , the code data, a checksum digit, and a stop code, which marks the end of the barcode. As with other linear barcodes, there are blank quiet zones on either side. GS consists of the basic Code format with an Application Identifier added to the code data. Application identifiers are 2 to 4 characters in length, and identify the type of data that will follow — typically, standard supply-chain applications, such as serial number, number of containers, lot number, weight, volume, etc.

Each identifier sets the length and format of the data that follows it. Because most application code data is fixed-length, it is possible to include several codes in one GS barcode, simply by adding new Application Identifiers and code data. The Code 39 symbology is also alphanumeric and variable-length.

It was developed in , and is still in relatively wide use; most barcode readers can read Code As a result, all characters have the same width, and a Code 39 barcode generally takes up more space than the equivalent Code barcode. A Code 39 barcode consists of a start character, the coded data, and a stop character.

Code 39 is used for many of the same types of applications as Code , and official Code 39 standards including an ANSI standard exist. It is not, however, included in the GS1 system. Interleaved 2 of 5 or ITF is a variable-length numbers-only linear barcode. It encodes digits in pairs, with the first digit in each pair represented by bars, and the second digit represented by spaces, so that they are interleaved.

Two of the five bars or spaces representing each digit are wide, and the others are narrow. Interleaved 2 of 5 is included in the GS1 system as the ITF standard, which has a set length of 14 digits. Patterns identical to the start and stop code can occur within the coded data, which can result in a bad reading if the scanner does not read the code all the way across. These codes are designed to keep data intact and scannable—even after being ripped, scratched or damaged.

This feature makes 2D barcodes uniquely suited to more intense, fast-paced scanning applications. QR codes are most often used in tracking and marketing initiatives, such as advertisements, magazines and business cards.

They are public domain and free to use. QR codes offer exceptional versatility. They can be scanned on just about any device with scanning capabilities including inexpensive smartphones —and encode almost any type of data. QR codes also feature exceptional fault tolerance, allowing users to decode information even if part of the code is damaged. Learn more about QR codes on the Scandit Blog.

Datamatrix codes are usually used to label small items, goods and documents. Their tiny footprint makes them ideal for small products in logistics and operations.

In fact, the U. Electronic Industries Alliance EIA recommends that they be used to label small electronic components. Similar to QR codes, they have high fault tolerance and fast readability. Datamatrix codes offer high data density, which means they take up less space on products and assets. Like many other 2D barcodes, Datamatrix codes offer strong fault tolerance as well.

Learn more about Datamatrix codes on the Scandit Blog. PDF codes are used for applications that require the storage of huge amounts of data, such as photographs, fingerprints and signatures. They can hold over 1. Thanks to their data efficiency, PDF codes are suited to a wide variety of applications, including transport and inventory management.

These barcodes are also well suited for creating paper boarding passes, as well as state-issued identification cards. Aztec codes are commonly used by the transportation industry, particularly for tickets and airline boarding passes. The barcodes can still be decoded even if they have bad resolution, making them useful when tickets are printed poorly or presented on a phone.

Aztec barcodes are extremely space-efficient. They can hold massive amounts of data while maintaining a relatively small size—and features excellent error correction to prevent scanning errors. Will the product be scanned at the point of sale in retail stores?