Barcodes

  • A barcode is an optical, machine readable representation of data.
  • The data usually describes something about the object that carries the barcode.


Types:
  • Originally barcodes systematically represented data by varying the width and spacing of parallel lines and many be referred to as one-dimensional and two-dimensional codes were developed.
1. One-Dimensional Barcodes:
  • UPC Code:
    • UPC barcodes are used to label and scan consumer goods at points of sale around the world, mainly in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and other countries.
    • The UPC-A variation encodes 12 numerical digit while UPC-E is a smaller variation which encodes only 6 numerical digits.


  • EAN Code:
    • These are also used to label consumer goods worldwide for point of sale scanning primarily in Europe.
    • Variations:  EAN-13, EAN-8, JAN-13, ISBN, ISSN.


  • Code 93:
    • The symbology of code 93 character set consists of barcode symbols representing the characters 0-9, A-Z, the space character and the following symbols /, +, %, -, ., $.
    • Code 93 barcodes are used in logistics to identify packages in retail inventory, label electronic components, and even provide supplementary delivery information for the Canadian post.


  • Interleaved 2 of 5:
    • ITF barcodes are used to label packaging materials across the globe.
    • Since they can deal with high printing tolerances, they are good for printing on corrugated cardboard.
    • ITF  barcode encode 14 numeric digits and use the full ASCII set.


  • Codabar:
    • Codabar barcodes are used by logistics and healthcare professionals, including US blood banks, FedEx, photo labs, and libraries.
    • Its main benefit is that it is easy to print and can be produced by any impact style printer, even a typewriter.
    • Codabar is a discrete, self-checking symbology that it encodes up to 16 different characters with an additional 4 start/stop characters.
    • Variations:  Codebar, Ames code, NW-7, Monarch, Code 2 of 7, Rationalized codabar.


  • GSI Databar:
    • GSI databar barcodes are used by retail outlets to identify consumer coupons, produce, and perishables, as well as small objects in the health care industry.
    • Variations:  GSI databar omnidirectional, Truncated, Stacked, Stacked omnidirectional, Expanded.

  • MSI Plessey:
    • This barcodes are used for inventory management in retail enviroments such as labeling supermarket shelves.


2. Two-Dimensional Barcodes:
  • QR-Code:
    • It is used in tracking and marketing such as advertisements, magazines, and business cards.
    • Free to use, flexible in size, have a high fault tolerance, and have fast readability, though they can't read with a laser scanner.
    • QR-codes supports four different modes of data numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, and kanji.


  • Data Matrix Code:
    • Data Matrix is a 2D barcode which can store from 1 to about 2000 characters.
    • Data Matrix symbols can be printed using most professional grade thermal transfer label printers on the market.
    • It is used in electronics, Retail and Government industries.


  • PDF 417:
    • It is used in applications that require the storage of huge amount of data, such as photographs, fingerprints, signatures, text, numbers, and graphics.
    • They can hold over 1.1 kilobyte of machine readable data, making them much more power than other 2D barcodes.
    • It is used in logistics and Government industries.


  • AZTEC:
    • AZTEC codes are 2D barcodes used by the transportation industry, particularly for tickets and airline boarding passes.
    • They can take up less space than other matrix barcodes because they don't require a surrounding blank "quietzone" unlike some other 2D barcode type. 


My notes images: