Barcode symbologies

Barcode symbologies

• The mapping between messages and barcodes is called a symbology. 
• The specification of a symbology includes the encoding of the single digits/characters into bars and space. 
• When choosing the right types of barcodes for your products, inventory or assets, you face many options. 
• Today, we’ll help you choose the right types of barcodes by walking through all the major 1D and 2D barcode types. 

One-Dimensional (1D) Barcode Types

Symbology	Uses	Image
UPC Code	To label and scan consumer goods at points-of-sale around the world.
EAN Code	To label consumer goods worldwide for point-of-sale scanning, primarily in Europe.
Code 39	To label goods across many automotive industry and the US department of Defense.
Code 128	In logistics and transportation industries for ordering and distribution.
ITF(Interleaved 2 of 5)	To label packaging materials across the globe.
Code 93	In logistics to identify packages in retail inventory, label electronic components,
CodaBar	For logistics and healthcare professionals, including U.S. blood banks, FedEx, photo labs, and libraries.
GS1 DataBar	By retail outlets to identify consumer coupons, produce, and perishables, as well as small objects in the healthcare industry.
MSI Plessey	For inventory management in retail environments, such as labeling supermarket shelves.

Two-Dimensional (2D) Barcode Types

Symbology	Uses	Image
QR Code	In tracking and marketing such as advertisements, magazines, and business cards.
Datamatrix Code	To label small items, goods, and documents.
PDF 417	In applications that require the storage of huge amounts of data, such as photographs, fingerprints, signatures, text, numbers, and graphics.
AZTEC	By the transportation industry, particularly for tickets and airline boarding passes.