There are dozens of barcode types, called symbologies. Each one has rules for how characters become bars or squares. Choosing the right one depends on what you need to encode, where the label goes and who will scan it.
1D (linear) barcodes
| Barcode | Data | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| EAN-13 | 13 digits | Retail products sold in India, Europe and most of the world. Needs a GS1 number. |
| EAN-8 | 8 digits | Very small retail packs where EAN-13 does not fit. |
| UPC-A / UPC-E | 12 / 8 digits | Retail in the USA and Canada; exports to North America. |
| Code 128 | Full ASCII, compact | Shipping, logistics, inventory, garments, internal labels. The all-rounder. |
| GS1-128 | Code 128 with GS1 application identifiers | Carton and pallet labels with GTIN, batch, expiry, weight and SSCC. |
| Code 39 | Upper-case letters, digits, a few symbols | Older industrial, automotive and defence systems; asset tags. |
| ITF-14 | 14 digits | Printed directly on corrugated shipping cartons of retail goods. |
| Codabar | Digits and a few symbols | Libraries, blood banks and older courier systems. |
| GS1 DataBar | GTIN plus optional data | Small items and fresh produce; can carry weight and expiry. |
2D barcodes
| Barcode | Capacity | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| QR code | Up to a few thousand characters | Payments (UPI), web links, product information, tickets, GS1 Digital Link on packaging. |
| Data Matrix | Up to about 2,000 characters; very small | Pharma and healthcare (serialisation), electronics, part marking, GS1 DataMatrix. |
| PDF417 | Around 1,000 characters | ID cards, driving licences, boarding passes, documents. |
| Aztec | Similar to QR | Transport tickets and mobile boarding passes. |
| MaxiCode | Fixed size | Parcel sorting by some international couriers. |
How to choose a barcode
- Selling in retail stores? Use EAN-13 (or UPC-A for North America) with a registered GS1 number.
- Shipping cartons and pallets? GS1-128 with SSCC, or ITF-14 printed on the carton.
- Internal stock, assets or garments? Code 128 - compact and easy to print.
- Small items or lots of data? Data Matrix or QR code.
- Customers scan with phones? QR code, ideally GS1 Digital Link.
Size and print quality
Every symbology has a minimum size and quiet zone. Shrinking a retail barcode too far, cutting its height, or printing it in red or on a dark background causes scan failures at billing counters. Use a printer resolution that suits the smallest bar: 203 dpi for most shipping and retail labels, 300 dpi or 600 dpi for small barcodes on jewellery tags, electronics and pharma labels.
Learn all of this hands-on in the Barcode Technology Course.