Barcode Types Explained: EAN, UPC, Code 128, Data Matrix and More

1D (linear) barcodes

Linear barcodes are the familiar black bars. They hold a short number or code and are read by laser scanners and cameras. They need horizontal space but very little height.

EAN-13 and EAN-8

EAN-13 is the standard retail barcode outside North America: 13 digits, the last one a check digit. EAN-8 is a short version for very small packs. Both use numbers issued by GS1, so a store can look up which company and product they belong to.

UPC-A and UPC-E

UPC-A is the 12-digit North American equivalent of EAN-13; any scanner that reads EAN-13 also reads UPC-A. UPC-E compresses certain UPC-A numbers into 8 digits for tiny packs.

Code 128

Code 128 encodes all standard keyboard characters and packs pairs of digits efficiently, making it the go-to barcode for internal use: stock codes, asset tags, order numbers. No registration is needed. The GS1-128 variant, with application identifiers like (01) and (17), is used on shipping labels between companies.

Code 39

An older barcode that encodes uppercase letters, digits and a few symbols. It is wider than Code 128 for the same data, but very tolerant of poor printing, which is why many industrial and government systems still require it.

ITF-14

ITF-14 marks cartons and outer cases, not individual products. Its wide bars and surrounding frame (bearer bars) print well on corrugated board. It carries a 14-digit GTIN that is usually derived from the product’s EAN-13.

2D barcodes

2D codes store data in both directions, so they hold far more in a smaller area and can survive damage thanks to error correction.

QR code

Built for fast reading by phone cameras, with large corner markers. It holds links, text, Wi-Fi details and more, which is why it dominates consumer use. GS1 is gradually introducing QR codes with “Digital Link” data on retail packs, alongside the traditional barcode.

Data Matrix

A square code with an L-shaped border. It stays readable at a few millimetres, so it is used on electronics, medical devices and medicine packs. Industrial scanners read it well; phone camera apps vary.

PDF417

A stacked barcode made of many short rows. It holds up to around a thousand characters and is found on driving licences, boarding passes and shipping documents.

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