The simplest way to identify a barcode type (symbology) is to scan the barcode with the Barcode Decoder Verification App, because it identifies common barcode types and recommends products that generate that barcode type.
A manual method may also be used by examining the start and stop characters in 1D symbols (designated in red) at the beginning and end of the following barcode examples. 2D symbols can be identified by examining their unique patterns.
Barcode for Beginners Video
| Symbology | Description | Barcode Types | Example of Barcode |
| Code 39 | The Code 39 barcode is the easiest to use of alpha-numeric barcodes and is designed for character self-checking, thus eliminating the requirement for check character calculations. | HIBC LIC LOGMARS MIL-STD-1189B MIL-STD-129 MIL-STD-2073-1C MIL-STD-129N |  |
| Code 128 | Character set A allows for uppercase characters, punctuation, numbers, and several special functions such as a return or tab. | CANADA POST USPS ISBT 128 USS Code 128 ISS Code 128 |  |
| Character set B allows for upper and lower case letters, punctuation, numbers, and a few select functions. |  | ||
| GS1-128 | Character set C interleaves two numbers into each barcode character which makes it a very high-density barcode. The FNC1 function (indicated in blue) designates it as a GS1-128 symbol. The number immediately following the FNC1 is the Application Identifier (AI). | UCC 128 EAN 128 SSCC-18 SCC-14 GTIN (EAN14) |  |
| UPC-A | The Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode is used in the retail industry. UPC-A consists of 12 numbers. | UPC UCC12 |  |
UPC-E | UPC-E consists of 12 numbers that are compressed into 8 numbers for small packages. |  | |
| EAN-13 | The European Article Numbering System (EAN) is a superset of U.P.C. EAN-13 consists of 13 numbers. | ISBN ISSN Bookland JAN |  |
| EAN-8 | The European Article Numbering System (EAN) is a superset of U.P.C. EAN-8 and consists of 8 digits for small packages. |  | |
| Interleaved 2 of 5 | ITF | Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF) is a numeric-only barcode used for encoding pairs of numbers in a high-density barcode format similar to code 128 character set C. | ITF-14 EAN-14 SCC-14 GTIN DUN14 USPS |  |
| Codabar | The symbology of the Codabar character set consists of barcode symbols representing characters 0-9, letters A to D, and the following symbols: – . $ / +. | Rationalized Codabar USD-4 NW-7 2 of 7 Code |  |
| Industrial 2 of 5 | The symbology of the Industrial Code 2 of 5 character set consists of barcode symbols representing the numbers 0-9, the start character, and the stop character. | Code 2 of 5 |  |
| Code 11 | The symbology of the Code 11 character set consists of barcode symbols representing the numbers 0-9, a dash symbol, the start character, and the stop character. |  | |
| Code 93 | The symbology of the Code 93 character set consists of barcode symbols representing characters 0-9, A-Z, the space character, and the following symbols: /, + , %, – , . , $ . |  | |
| GS1 DataBar | GS1 DataBar is capable of encoding up to 20,000,000,000,000 (20 trillion) values. |  | |
| DataBar Expanded | GS1 DataBar Expanded is a variable-length, expanded version of the DataBar symbology capable of encoding the 14-digit GTIN and additional data. |  | |
| DataBar Expanded Stacked | GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked Omni-directional has the exact same data characteristics as GS1 DataBar Expanded, except that it may be stacked to decrease width and increase height. |  | |
| DataBar Omni-Directional Stacked | GS1 DataBar Stacked Omni-Directional has the exact same data characteristics as GS1 DataBar. This symbol is approved for POS use after 1-1-2010. |  | |
| DataBar Truncated | GS1 DataBar Truncated has the exact same data characteristics as the GS1 DataBar barcode, except the bar height is set to the minimum height of 13 times the X dimension. |  | |
| GS1 DataBar Limited | GS1 DataBar Limited has the same data characteristics as the GS1 DataBar barcode, except that it may only include values up to 4,000,000,000,000 (4 trillion). |  | |
| GS1 DataBar Coupon Code | GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked Omni-directional as a coupon. Coupon Code Tutorial |  | |
| MSI Plessey | The MSI Plessey barcode was designed in the 1970s by the Plessey Company in England and has been used primarily in libraries and retail applications. | MSI Code Pulse Width Modulated Barcode |  |
| POSTNET | The POSTNET (Postal Numeric Encoding Technique) barcode is a special barcode developed by the US Post Office to encode zip code information. | Zip Zip + 4 DPBC |  |
| PLANET | The U.S. Postal Service uses a special barcode called PLANET to track letter-size mail electronically | USPS CONFIRM |  |
| USPS IMb | A 4-state height-modulated barcode designed for use in high-speed, automated, mail sorting machines that allow both Planet and Postnet barcode information to be combined into a single symbol. | 4-State Customer Barcode 4CB or 4-CB OneCode Solution Barcode USPS4CB |  |
| MICR E13B | The MICR E13B font is a special font that is used on bank checks and drafts in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Panama, UK, and a few other countries to print MICR characters for magnetic recognition and optical character recognition systems. |  | |
| MICR CMC7 | The MICR CMC-7 font is a special font that is used on bank checks in Mexico, France, Spain, and most Spanish-speaking countries. |  | |
| OCRa OCRb | The OCR-A and OCR-B character sets contain both upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and several special characters. The OCR-A font characters were created from ANSI X3.17-1981 specifications and the OCR-B font characters were created from ANSI X3.49-1982 specifications. | OCR-B1 Eurobanking OCR-A1 Eurobanking |  |
| PDF417 | The PDF-417 symbology uses Reed Solomon error correction; the printed PDF417 barcode symbol can withstand damage without causing loss of data. |  | |
| Data Matrix ECC200 | Data Matrix ECC200 is a very area efficient 2D barcode symbology that uses a unique square module perimeter pattern that helps the barcode scanner determine cell locations. It can encode GS1 data, letters, numbers, text, and actual data bytes. This symbol can withstand damage without causing a loss of data. |  | |
| GS1 DotCode | DotCode is a 2D symbology that adheres to AIM ISS DotCode Rev 4 specification and supports all GS1 Application Identifiers. Dot Code is primarily used for high-speed printers where accuracy is not always guaranteed. DotCode can be generated at several different height and width ratios. |  | |
| MaxiCode | MaxiCode is a two-dimensional matrix barcode symbology containing hexagon modules in a 1″ square area. MaxiCode is used by UPS (United Parcel Service) on packing slips for sorting and addressing packages. |  | |
| Aztec | Aztec is an area-efficient 2D barcode symbology that can encode letters, numbers, text, and actual bytes of data, including Unicode and extended characters, plus small photos. |  | |
| QR-Code | QR-Code is an efficient, two-dimensional (2D) barcode symbology that allows easy encoding of MECARD data including phone numbers and web URLs. This symbol can withstand damage without causing a loss of data. |  |