Are all barcodes the same?

Modified on Fri, 30 Aug at 1:46 PM

All barcodes represent data in a machine readable format using patterns of different widths of dark bars and pale spaces, but the similarities end there.  Some show the data only using the different widths of the bars, some have only two different widths of bars and spaces, some can only represent numbers, while others can show alphanumeric data.

The barcodes used by the GS1 System have, in some cases, been specially designed for it, while others have been adapted to suit the requirements of the System’s users.  All the barcodes used by the GS1 System have a standardized data content which means that they can be used by any company that has adopted the GS1 System. GS1 barcodes also have special features to ensure they are not confused with any other barcodes. 

The barcodes used by GS1 include:
EAN-13
UPC-A
EAN-8
UPC-E
GS1 DataBar family of symbols
GS1-128
ITF-14
GS1 DataMatrix
GS1 QR Code
GS1 DotCode
Composite Component

For more information please click here: http://www.gs1.org/barcodes

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