Why are there four different kinds of GS1 DataBar barcodes that are accepted at retail Point-of-Sale (POS)?

Modified on Fri, 30 Aug at 6:23 PM

GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional and GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional symbols can only encode a GTIN. GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional is wider and shorter and GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional is tall and narrow. This means the choice between the two can be made depending on how the package designer wants to make space available for the barcode.


GS1 DataBar Expanded and GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked symbols can encode a GTIN plus attribute information, such as best before date, and net weight. The first of these is wider and shorter than the second which is taller and narrower. The choice between the two is made depending on the size and shape of the label being used.

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