How long barcode

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. To prevent this, the ITF standard requires a heavy black border called the bearer bar.

ITF barcodes are typically used in wholesale and shipping for box or carton lots of a product. A specialized version of the ITF barcode is also used on film canisters. Codabar was originally developed by Pitney Bowes in It is a variable-length barcode that uses a small set of bars to encode the digits 0 through 9, and in some applications, a few symbols such as the dollar and plus signs.

A Codabar code consists of a start symbol, the coded data, and a stop symbol. Codabar has traditionally been used by libraries, by blood banks, and for airbills by some companies such as Federal Express, and is still in use for some of those applications.

APharmacode barcode consists of two widths of bars only, with a length of up to 12 bars. The data is a single integer in the range 3 to encoded as a binary number. Pharmacode barcodes can use multiple colors as an added check for packaging accuracy.

Individual pharmaceutical companies generate their own Pharmacode barcodes. They are used on the production line, where they are automatically scanned on inserts and other items being placed in the package, in order to detect mismatches. Databar is a GS1 family of barcode standards generally intended for reduced space applications.

Linear barcodes in the Databar family include the Omnidirectional and Expanded codes, which can be scanned omnidirectionally, and the Truncated and Limited codes, which are designed to be read by handheld scanners only. Expanded codes can include additional information such as weight and expiration date, designated using Application Identifiers in the manner of GS barcodes.

Truncated and Limited Databar barcodes are generally used in the health care industry for small-item identification. Postnet is the barcode system which has been in use by the United States Postal Service for routing mail; it is being phased out in favor of the Intelligent Mail System, described below.

Postnet codes use variable-height bars to represent digits. About Wasp. Contact Us. Request Tracking Consult. Request for Quote. Software Demos. Terms of Sale. Terms of Use. Return Policy. Sunset Policy. Privacy Policy. WaspLink Partner Programs Looking to grow your business with the right type of partnership? Become a Partner Already know Wasp is a perfect match for your business? Find a Partner Looking to implement a Wasp solution or resell one?

For Resellers Interested in becoming a Wasp Reseller? Register a Deal Have a sales opportunity that you want protection on? Register it here. My Cart,. View Cart Checkout. Close Search. This simple black and white image can generate the transportation of a package from a single location to anywhere in the world with one flash of a scanner.

This one small act completely changed the game on data collection and automation forever. So, what exactly are barcodes? Barcodes are images expressed as a combination of black bars and white spaces. These combinations represent data that then relays information to a computer or mobile source when scanned. Barcodes can include numbers, letters, and characters as a means of further identification.

Because they house an abundance of information, barcodes are a fast and reliable option for businesses to collect data and help reduce human error.

Keeping track of data by hand or spreadsheet can add unnecessary time and work, as well as a high possibility for miscalculations. By using barcodes, all of this can be marginally cut down. It is also less expensive overall, helping to lower unnecessary costs for a company. Warehouses and logistics require barcodes to aid in shipping and tracking items through the supply chain. Healthcare professionals can use them to identify patient information, such as medicine and dosage amounts, and tracking in locations like blood banks.

Libraries utilize them to track the movement and location of books as they are checked-out and returned, as well as to see what is available in their system.

Clothing retailers scan barcodes as a means of product identification i. Grocery stores scan items for purchase and inventory, not only for that specific store but also for the customer i. When it comes to the type of information that barcodes hold, the possibilities are truly endless.

They are able to range from simple to detailed and complex; the only question is how much information do you want to convey? Another key advantage of 2D barcodes is their error-protection formulas. 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.