Barcode Symbologies

If you ever looked closely enough, you have undoubtedly noticed that not all barcodes are the same. Some have several different widths of black bars, while others only have two - one narrow and one wide. Some are longer or taller while others are more compressed and shorter. In fact, there are over 100 different barcode symbologies. No single barcode can do it all; no barcode has a universal business application. That is why it is necessary for barcode shoppers to find the symbology which works best for their company or for their specific applications. Indeed, many companies use at least two different symbologies.

The spaces and bars of a barcode are a simplified language in the manner that COBOL, BASIC and FORTRAN are simplified languages which allow programmers to speak with computers. Barcodes look "strange" because the bars and spaces are the elements of a language which can be easily understood by a computer. In essence, barcode symbologies are a sort of "in-between" language which allows humans and computers to communicate.

Barcode Symbology Specifications

The mapping between messages and barcodes is called a symbology. The specification of a symbology includes the encoding of the single digits/characters of the message as well as the start and stop markers into bars and space, the size of the quiet zone required to be before and after the barcode as well as the computation of a checksum. The tables below link to Wikipedia pages that contain further information. Note: tables below came from Wikipedia and are thus public domain, not copyrighted.

Linear barcodes
Symbology	Uses
Plessey	Catalogs, store shelves, inventory
UPC	North America retail
EAN-UCC	Worldwide retail
Codabar	Libraries, blood banks, airbills
Interleaved 2 of 5	Wholesale, Libraries
Code 39	Various
Code 93	Various
Code 128	Various
Code 11	Telephones
Pharmacode	Pharmaceutical Packaging
POSTNET	Post office
PostBar	Post office
CPC Binary	Post office
Telepen	Libraries, etc (UK)

Stacked symbologies consist of a given linear symbology repeated vertically in multiple.

Stacked barcodes
Symbology	Notes
Codablock	Stacked 1D barcodes.
Code 16K	Based on 1D Code 128.
Code 49	Stacked 1D barcodes from Intermec Corp.
PDF417	The most common 2D barcode. Public domain.
Micro PDF417

A matrix code, also known as a 2D barcode, is a two-dimensional way of representing information. It is similar to a linear (1-dimensional) barcode, but has more data representation capability.

2D Barcodes
Symbology	Notes
3-DI	Developed by Lynn Ltd.
Adobe LiveCycle	From Adobe Systems.
ArrayTag	From ArrayTech Systems.
Aztec Code	Designed by Andrew Longacre at Welch Allyn (now Hand Held Products). Public domain.
Small Aztec Code	Space conscious version of Aztec code.
Bullseye	This was the barcode tested in a Kroger store in Cincinnati. It used concentric bars.
Codablock	Stacked 1D barcodes.
Code 1	Public domain.
Code 16K	Based on 1D Code 128.
Code 49	Stacked 1D barcodes from Intermec Corp.
CP Code	From CP Tron, Inc.
DataGlyphs	From Xerox PARC.
Datamatrix	From RVSI Acuity CiMatrix. Now Public Domain.
Datastrip Code	From Datastrip, Inc.
Dot Code A	Designed for the unique identification of items.
HueCode	From Robot Design Associates. Uses greyscale or colour.
INTACTA.CODE	From INTACTA Technologies, Inc.
MaxiCode	Used by United Parcel Service. Now Public Domain
MiniCode	From Omniplanar, Inc.
PDF417	Originated by Symbol Technologies Public Domain. The most common 2D barcode.
Micro PDF417	Facilitates codes too small to be used in PDF417.
QR Code	From Nippondenso ID Systems. Can encode Japanese Kanji and Kana characters. Public domain.
Semacode	Open standard for picture cell phones
SmartCode	From InfoImaging Technologies.
Snowflake Code	From Marconi Data Systems, Inc.
SpotCode	Circular barcodes for camera phones from High Energy Magic Ltd and now Shotcode.
SuperCode	Public domain.
UltraCode	Black-and-white & colour versions. Public domain. Invented by Jeffrey Kaufman and Clive Hohberger.
VeriCode, VSCode	From Veritec, Inc.

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