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Barcode Symbologies

A barcode symbology is the encoding scheme that is used to express data by using a pattern of bars and spaces in a barcode. The bars and spaces are the most basic elements of a barcode, and their arrangement is defined by the symbology that is used.

Symbologies can be divided into four categories based on technical specifications and one based on application specifications:

Linear Symbologies

A linear symbology is a single row of bars and spaces. The elements can vary either by width (as in EAN-8) or by height (as in Royal Mail 4-State Customer Barcode).

EAN-8

Royal Mail 4-State Customer Barcode

Linear symbologies are also called one-dimensional (1-D) symbologies. Some linear symbologies support versions that are circular.

2-D Stacked Symbologies

A two-dimensional (2-D) stacked symbology contains multiple rows of bars and spaces. Some 2-D stacked symbologies have separator rows between the data rows (such as GS1 Databar Expanded Stacked). Other 2-D stacked symbologies have no separator rows (such as PDF417).

GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked

PDF417

2-D Matrix Symbologies

A 2-D matrix symbology has a two-dimensional pattern of elements that does not necessarily have a row-by-row structure. Typically, the elements are squares or dots rather than bars, as in Aztec Code (in which the data is written in a spiral outward).

Aztec Code

DotCode

QR Code

Composite Symbologies

Application Standards

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