GS1 QR Code
GS1 QR Code is a variant of QR Code that conforms to GS1 specifications. It was designed specifically for sharing extended packaging information, such as lot number, product ID, and quantity.
GS1 QR Code inherits the specifications for its character set and dimensions from QR Code. It can be printed in black on a white background or in white on a black background.
QR Code is defined in ISO/IEC 18004 Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - QR Code 2005 bar code symbology specification. The GS1 implementation is defined in the GS1 General Specifications document.
The symbol comprises the following elements:
A GS1 QR Code symbol always begins with the Function Code 1 (FNC1) character and uses application identifiers to separate different types of data within the barcode. Data is stored in "modules" (square dots) in the data area as binary information. Each black module represents a binary 1, and each white module represents a binary 0.
The finder patterns are the square bull's eyes that appear in three corners of the symbol. These patterns enable the barcode to be scanned correctly at any orientation.
The alignment pattern, which is present only in version 2 and larger symbols, helps the decoding software re-synchronize in case of slight distortion of the code. It consists of a grid of small square bull's eyes that is overlaid over the data region.
The timing patterns consist of one row and one column of alternating black and white modules. They enable the reader to determine symbol version and density.
This symbology supports the following characters in the following modes:
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Numeric mode: Includes all numeric digits (0-9)
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Alphanumeric mode: Includes all numeric digits (0-9), uppercase letters (A-Z), and the following special characters:
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Dollar sign ($)
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Percent sign (%)
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Asterisk (*)
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Plus sign (+)
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Hyphen (-)
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Period (.)
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Slash mark (/)
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Colon (:)
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Space character
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Byte mode: Includes data that is encoded at 8 bits per character; the default character set is as defined in ISO/IEC 8859 Information technology - 8-bit single-byte coded graphic character sets
It is possible to manually switch between modes in a single barcode.
GS1 QR Code uses the Reed-Solomon algorithm for error correction. Four selectable levels of error correction are available, which enables the barcode to be read even if up to 30 percent of the code is damaged.
Every GS1 symbol contains one or more application identifiers in addition to the data it encodes. An application identifier is a sequence of characters that relates a data string to a physical or logical thing, such as an item number, serial number, or due date.
Each application identifier tells the user what type of data follows and defines the length and data format of that same data string. Some application identifiers specify data fields that contain a fixed number of characters, whereas others specify a variable-length data field.
GS1 QR Code can encode any of the application identifiers, but it must begin with the application identifier (01) for GTIN and (8200) for the Extended Packaging URL before any other application identifiers are used.
GS1 QR Code can be used to encode a GS1 Digital Link, which is a specialized Web URI that supports both product identification and a link to online material that comply with the GS1 standard. The GS1 Digital Link makes it possible for manufacturers and retailers to provide web-based product information to other businesses or to consumers.
For more information, refer to GS1 Digital Link.
Symbol Structure