Identifying types of barcodes: Choosing the right barcode

From tool tracking to inventory management to retail transactions, barcodes have become a universal element. Each barcode type serves a different purpose, and knowing which one to use can significantly impact your business's efficiency and productivity.

Today, we'll focus on the most commonly used barcode types, offering a clear, concise guide to navigate through the possibilities. By understanding these types, benefits and limitations, you'll be better equipped to choose the best barcode for your organization.

One-dimensional (1D) vs. two-dimensional (2D) barcodes

In the world of barcodes, two categories stand out: one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) barcodes. These represent fundamental differences in how information is encoded and stored.

1D barcodes are the classic, linear barcodes you see on everyday items. They're made up of varying widths and spacings of parallel lines. 2D barcodes are square or rectangular symbols that store a much larger amount of information.

Here’s a breakdown of how these types of barcodes differ:

Each barcode type has several categories, each with specific features and applications.

One-dimensional (1D) barcode types

Here is a list of some of the most common types of 1D barcodes:

UPC code

The Universal Product Code, or UPC, is a numeric-only barcode mainly used in the United States and Canada.

UPC codes are a great option to quickly and accurately identify products in retail and warehouse settings. You'll usually find UPCs on retail products like food items, electronic gadgets, and anything you can buy in a physical store. It typically contains 12 digits of numbers instead of letters or other characters. These digits are uniquely associated with a single product, often tying back to a product database that contains additional information like the product name, description and pricing.

EAN code

The European Article Number (EAN) is similar to the UPC but is more internationally accepted. EAN-8 is the shorter version of the EAN code, contains 8 digits, and is often used for smaller packaging where a full EAN-13 barcode may not fit.

EAN-13, on the other hand, is the 13-digit code standard for the EAN system and is used globally. Both versions store numeric data relating to the product and include numbers under a series of vertical bars. They're used on products sold internationally. You'll find them in grocery stores, bookstores and many other retail environments worldwide. When abroad, look for the EAN barcode if you don't spot the UPC.

Code 39

Code 39 is an alphanumeric barcode that encodes digits 0-9, upper-case letters and special characters like spaces and hyphens.

The alphanumeric nature of this barcode enables the storage of different data types, such as numbers and text. It features a combination of narrow and wide elements (bars and spaces) and can accommodate both letters and numbers. Widely used in various industries, it finds applications in healthcare for patient identification, as well as in the automotive sector for parts tracking and inventory management.

Barcodes like this are helpful when storing alphanumeric data that would otherwise be too long for a numeric-only barcode.

Code 128

Code 128 is like the beefed-up cousin of Code 39. The QR code can store various types of information, such as numbers, letters and ASCII characters. Its appearance can greatly vary due to its flexibility, often appearing more dense and complex compared to Code 39. It finds common applications in packaging, shipping, logistics, and retail sectors for fulfilling complex informational requirements.

Code 93

Code 93 may look similar and encode the same characters as Code 39, but it does so in a more compressed form, making it useful for smaller items. Code 93 is often used in logistics and inventory control, particularly when space is premium. For those in the logistics and inventory management business, Code 93 is an ideal choice.

Codabar

Codabar is a simple, low-density numeric barcode. A Codabar can encode numbers 0-9 and special characters like dashes and colons. Look for a barcode with numbers and possibly a few special characters framed by start/stop characters, which are letters (A-D). This barcode type is often used in libraries, blood banks and courier services.

You'll generally see a Codabar barcode when you need to quickly and accurately track items that don't require more detailed information.

MSI Plessey

MSI Plessey is a numeric-only barcode with self-checking redundancy built in. It's strictly numeric and often used to label shelves or items in a warehouse with unique identifiers. It’s similar to Codabar but without special characters or start/stop markers and is primarily used in warehousing, inventory control and logistics. If you work with warehousing and inventory, MSI Plessey is the perfect barcode type.

Two-dimensional (2D) barcode types

Here are some of the most common types of 2D barcodes and what makes each unique:

QR code

QR stands for "Quick Response" and is designed for speedy data retrieval. They're the little square mazes you often see on ads, product packaging and even billboards.

A QR code can store many data types, including text, website URLs and even Wi-Fi passwords. Look for a square shape with smaller squares at its three corners. The inside will look like a random arrangement of smaller squares. You'll find QR codes used in marketing materials, product labels, restaurants for menus and various other contexts where quick access to data is handy.

You've most likely seen one before, but if you need to store lots of data and don't have much room, QR codes make a great choice.

Data Matrix

Data Matrix codes are highly efficient and can store large amounts of data. They are particularly good at encoding text and can include numerical data and even special characters. As for its visuals, it's another square or rectangular pattern, but unlike the QR code, it doesn't have larger squares in the corners.

These are widely used in the electronics manufacturing industry, for small parts labeling, and even on mail pieces for tracking. Though you may not notice them as often, Data Matrix barcodes are incredibly common.

PDF417

PDF417 stands for "Portable Data File 417," despite the PDF in its name, it has nothing to do with Adobe's PDF files. PDF417 codes are rectangular, with a series of lines and spaces arranged in that rectangle. They can store text, numbers and special characters. You'll find these on driver's licenses, identification cards and boarding passes.

Aztec code

The Aztec code is another 2D barcode that can store a decent amount of data and encode text, numbers and other data types. It's a square with a distinctive bulls-eye pattern in the middle and often used for transportation tickets and sometimes in point-of-sale systems.

Using barcodes for asset tracking

Barcodes can be a game-changer when it comes to asset management and tracking within organizations. With the right system in place, barcodes offer a highly effective and efficient way to keep tabs on various assets, from laptops and office chairs to heavy machinery and medical equipment.

Setting up a barcode asset tracking system isn't too complicated, but you do need some essential items:

Choose tags that suit the specific needs and conditions of your workplace. Some factors to consider include:

With these protective conditions, asset tagging can be done accurately and efficiently.

A barcode asset tracking system can offer precise, real-time tracking capabilities that simply aren't possible with manual tracking methods. From cutting down on asset loss to improving operational efficiency, the benefits are extensive and can have a tangible impact.