DIFFERENT TYPES OF BARCODES/HOW MANY TYPES OF BARCODES

 

Each type of barcode has its own specific set of uses, advantages, and limitations. Selection of a barcode type typically depends on the industry standard, the amount of data that needs to be encoded, the space available for barcode printing, and the type of scanning devices that will be used to read the barcode.

1. Linear (1D) Barcodes:

1. UPC (Universal Product Code):
o Use: Widely used in retail stores in the USA for tracking
trade items in stores.
o Structure: Consists of 12 numeric digits that are uniquely
assigned to each trade item.

2. EAN (European Article Number):

o Use: Similar to UPC but used more outside the USA.
o Structure: EAN-13 has 13 numeric digits, and EAN-8, a
shorter version, has 8 digits for smaller packages.

3. Code 39:

o Use: Used in various industries, particularly in the
automotive and defense sectors.
o Structure: Can encode an alphanumeric set (digits and
letters), and has a set of 43 characters.

4. Code 128:

o Use: Provides the best density for alphanumeric data and is
used widely for shipping and packaging.
o Structure: Highly versatile and can represent all 128 ASCII
characters.

5. ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5):

o Use: Commonly used in warehousing and distribution.
o Structure: Only encodes numeric data and encodes pairs of
digits by interleaving bars and spaces.

6. Codabar:

o Use: Often used in libraries, blood banks, and parcels and
freight.
o Structure: Can encode digits and six additional characters:
(-), ($), (:), (/), (.), and (+).
2. Two-Dimensional (2D) Barcodes:
1. QR Code (Quick Response Code):
o Use: Widely used for its storage capacity and fast
readability. Common in consumer advertising and packaging.
o Structure: Encodes data both vertically and horizontally;
can store text, URLs, or other data.
2. Data Matrix:
o Use: Common in electronics, healthcare, and logistics for
marking small items.
o Structure: Similar to QR codes but can remain legible when
printed at a smaller size or etched onto a product.
3. PDF417:
o Use: Used for applications that require large amounts of
data, like government IDs and drivers' licenses.
o Structure: A stacked linear barcode that can hold over 1
kilobyte of machine-readable data.
4. Aztec Code:
o Use: Utilized in transportation, particularly for tickets
and airline boarding passes.
o Structure: Compact and does not require a quiet zone (empty
space around the code), unlike other 2D codes.
5. MaxiCode:
o Use: Designed for tracking and managing the shipment of
packages.
o Structure: Fixed size and shape (resembling a hexagon)
which contains data encoded in a central area and around it.
3. Postal Barcodes:
1. IMB (Intelligent Mail Barcode):
o Use: Used by the US Postal Service for sorting and tracking
letters and flats.
o Structure: Combines the capabilities of the POSTNET™ and
the PLANET Code® barcodes, and includes a tracking code and routing information.
2. POSTNET (Postal Numeric Encoding Technique):
o Use: Used to encode ZIP code information for mail sorting.
o Structure: Consists of long and short bars that represent
digits.
3. RM4SCC (Royal Mail 4 State Customer Code):
o Use: Used by the Royal Mail in the UK to encode
alphanumeric characters in mail sorting.
o Structure: Uses four-state bars which can be in one of four
positions.