13 Must-Know Barcode Types and How Industries Use Them

Barcodes have a broad scope and different functions and usage depending on the industry. Knowing the major barcode types will help you choose the best means of transmitting information in your business.

This is especially important in the current digital age, as more and more industries require improved transparency and traceability.

We review a list of barcode symbols, from their characteristics to common uses. We also provide a step-by-step guide on generating popular 2D barcodes—QR codes and GS1 digital links—using the most advanced QR code generator with logo integration. 

Table of Contents

1. How many kinds of barcodes are there?
2. What are the most common barcode types?
3. From 1D to 2D: A list of different types of barcodes
4. QR code vs barcode: Which is better?
5. How to create a 2D barcode using QR TIGER QR Code Generator
   • Generating branded QR codes
   • Generating GS1 digital link QR codes
6. How to identify the barcode type to use: Industry-based applications
7. The bridge to digital information: Types of barcode readers
8. QR TIGER: The number one provider of QR code solutions

How many kinds of barcodes are there?

There are around 30 types of barcodes all over the world, some of which have multiple variations. Others also have very specific use cases, making them relatively unknown to most people.

For example, Code 32 is used to identify pharmaceutical products in Italy. Meanwhile, PostNL uses the RM4SCC or KIX barcode to sort mail.

What are the most common barcode types?

Growing up, we’re probably more used to seeing 1D barcodes on product packaging. This barcode is likely to be the UPC barcode, particularly the UPC-A variant, because of its larger data capacity.

However, another barcode has been gaining popularity in recent years: the QR code. In fact, this rise in public use has prompted internet users to look up QR code vs barcode comparisons to learn more.

QR codes haven’t taken over as the most common type of barcode; they're used across all sectors of society, from business to personal. You can easily create one nowadays using the best QR code generator online.

From 1D to 2D: A list of different types of barcodes

From the store barcodes we all know and love to the powerful QR code, here are 13 barcodes you have to know about:

UPC

The most well-known GS1 barcode in the world, UPC barcodes are the ones we often see when we buy something from the store. 

UPC stands for Universal Product Code and was invented to create a uniform standard for identifying items in a business’s inventory. 

This type of barcode has two variations: UPC-A and UPC-E. The former stores twelve numeric characters, while the latter only stores 6.

EAN

The European counterpart of the most common barcode types, EAN, differs from UPC in that it stores one more numeric character in its barcode. EAN-13 stores thirteen digits, while EAN-8 stores eight.

Other variations of the EAN code include JAN-13, ISBN, and ISSN.

Code 39

Code 39, Alpha39, or Code 3 of 9, is the first barcode to hold both letters and numbers. This makes it a more versatile way of labeling goods across industries. 

The reason behind its name is its ability to encode 39 alphanumeric characters. However, its latest version is capable of encoding 43. It can also encode the following symbols: –. $ / + %.

Code 93

Designed in 1982 by Intermec, which is now part of Honeywell Scanning & Mobility, this barcode is often used to identify packages in retail inventory and label electronic components. The Canadian Post also uses Code 93 to store supplementary delivery data. 

The barcode's name comes from the fact that each character is nine modules wide and has three bars and spaces. It provides additional security and is more dense than Code 39 barcodes. 

Code 128

Barcode type 128 features high-density and compact codes and is often used in the logistics and transportation industries to track items in the supply chain. Code 128 barcodes are also found useful in retail, healthcare, and inventory management.

They can encode any character from the ASCII 128-character set and can store large amounts of data without taking up space.

ITF

Short for Interleaved 2 of 5, ITF barcodes are known for being printed directly onto corrugated cardboard, which is a kind of cardboard often used in packaging. This is why this type of barcode is primarily used in the warehouse and distribution industries.

ITF only stores numbers in pairs. The first number is encoded in five black lines, while the second one is encoded in the five spaces between the lines. Two out of every five lines or spaces are wide, which is the reason behind its name.

Codabar

This type of barcode can store numeric characters and the symbols $:/. +. However, the first and last symbols of the barcode, also known as the guard patterns, encode either A, B, C, or D. 

Codabar barcodes are easy to print and can even be produced by a typewriter. Each character in the barcode consists of four bars and three spaces, and a narrow space separates each character from adjacent ones.

They often find use in logistics and healthcare spaces, such as U.S. blood banks, photography labs, libraries, and even FedEx. 

GS1 DataBar

This barcode type from Global Standards 1 used to be known as Reduced Space Symbology. GS1 DataBar codes come in four different types, but all of them feature seven symbols: four symbols for point-of-sale systems and three for other uses. 

GS1 DataBar barcodes are used to hold information like batch numbers, expiry dates, and item weight. This is why they are often used in retail to label fresh foods. They can also be found on labels in the healthcare industry.

MSI Plessey

The last of the 1D barcode label types on this list, MSI Plessey barcodes are often used for inventory management in retail stores and warehouses. 

While they are only capable of encoding numerical characters, you can encode as many numbers as you want. This gives MSI Plessey barcodes the ability to store more data than most barcodes. 

QR code

Being the first 2D barcode type on this list, their popularity comes from the long QR code history that began in 1994, when a Denso Wave engineer named Masahiro Hara invented them. 

The development of QR code technology was rooted in the purpose of improving the barcode system’s data capacity and scannability. 

The result was a barcode that could store up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters, 7,089 numerical characters, or 2,953 bytes of information. What’s more, it is capable of encoding up to 1,817 Kanji characters.

Nowadays, people can easily create their own QR codes with a dynamic QR code generator.

Data Matrix code

One of the many different types of QR codes is the Data Matrix code, which looks like its more famous counterpart but without the “eyes.” While it is often seen as a square, rectangular Data Matrix codes exist. 

Data Matrix codes can hold 2335 alphanumeric characters, 3116 numerical characters, or 1556 bytes of information. While these are almost half of what QR codes can store, they are still chosen to label small electronic components and healthcare trade items.

PDF417

Another entry to the list of 2D barcodes is the PDF417, a stacked 2D linear barcode. “PDF” stands for Portable Data File, while “417” refers to the 4 bars and spaces in each 17-module long pattern.

This barcode type is unique because it resembles a combination of a Data Matrix code and a traditional barcode. It is notably one of two kinds of barcode accepted by the United States Postal Service for printing postage, the other being the Data Matrix code.

PDF417 barcodes can hold over 1.1 kilobytes of information, making them effective in transport, logistics, identification, and inventory management applications.

Aztec

The last entry on this list is the Aztec barcode, a 2D barcode commonly used for tickets and boarding passes. It is efficient in saving space and can encode up to 3067 alphanumeric characters, 3832 numerical characters, or 1914 bytes of data.

How are they space-efficient? Well, it’s because they don’t require a surrounding “quiet zone,” which is a blank area around 2D barcodes that separates them from other elements in an image. 

It kind of makes you want to choose between the Aztec barcode vs QR code, doesn’t it? Still, it’s capable of preventing scanning errors thanks to its excellent error correction.

QR code vs barcode: Which is better?

Choosing between 1D vs 2D barcodes is normal when deciding which one to use.

Barcodes have had a long and impactful history since their days of making checkouts faster. By encoding information into a small, machine-readable collection of lines and spaces, industries across the world have become more efficient in their operations. 

However, the barcodes could only be scanned from one direction and had limited storage, hence the need for a better item tracking system. This need led to the creation of barcodes with an increased capacity and omnidirectional scannability.

QR codes have such an advantage over barcodes that, in 2027, points of sale will implement QR code technologies into their systems. This means that QR code will replace the barcode. 

Known as Sunrise 2027, the GS1 organization spearheads the initiative to meet the world’s growing demands for more transparency, traceability, and authentication.

How to create a 2D barcode using QR TIGER QR Code Generator

We are an advanced QR code software that is helping over 850,000 brands and individuals from different industries worldwide to streamline their company operations, manage logistics and supply chains, and reach their marketing campaign goals at every scan. 

Here’s how to use our platform:

Generating branded QR codes

• Sign up or log in to your account and choose a QR code solution from the menu.
• Fill in the necessary information for your chosen QR code solution.
• Choose between Static QR and Dynamic QR, then click Generate QR code.
• Personalize your QR code using a built-in customization tool. Change the color, shape, eyes, and pattern. Then, add your logo and a frame with a short call to action.
• Perform a quick scan test by scanning your QR code with your phone. 
• Save your QR code by hitting Download.

Generating GS1 digital link QR codes

• Visit an online GS1 QR code generator and sign up.
• Choose between Extended Version or Simplified and fill in the necessary information.
• Decide whether you want to overlay your barcode over the QR code and/or display the serial number under the QR code and check the corresponding boxes.
• Choose between four output methods: URL, File, Product Page, App Stores.
• Enter the URL of your website.
• Click Generate QR code.
• Customize your QR code by changing the color, shape, eyes, and pattern. Then, add your logo and a frame with a short call to action.
• Test your QR code by scanning it with your phone. 
• Hit Download to save your QR code.

How to identify the barcode type to use: Industry-based applications

With so many barcodes, it can be tough to decide on which one is the best for your needs. There’s no need to worry though as we’ve got a simple guide to help you choose.

Identify the reason for using the barcode

The first thing you should do is lay out the reasons for using a barcode. This will narrow down your choices since some barcodes were designed for specific purposes. For example, UPC and EAN barcodes are used to identify items at the point of sale of retail stores.

Determine the type of data to be encoded

Some barcodes can store certain types of data that others can’t. Knowing the kind of data to encode will make your list of potential candidates even shorter. 

Take note of how much data will be encoded

The many barcodes we’ve mentioned have their own maximum data capacity. If you know how much data to encode, you can disregard the barcodes that can’t store the amount of data you need.

Explore your barcode reader options

Barcode readers come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. Your business might even be using one that can be used to scan multiple types of barcode! Knowing all of your barcode reader options, along with the previous tips we provided, can make deciding much easier.

Consider the space you will need to accommodate your barcode

Your barcodes will have to be printed before they can be scanned for information. However, labeling a box with a barcode too big for the available space can make it unscannable.

Since each type of barcode has their own unique shape and size, keeping this in mind when making your choice can save you time, effort, and printing costs.

Check the material you will print your barcode on

If you are printing your barcode directly onto the item you wish to label, then it is important to remember that the material you are printing on can affect your barcode’s print quality. 

Some barcodes are the ideal choices for certain materials, like how ITF works best on corrugated cardboards.

Look into any industrial or third-party requirements

Businesses always follow standards to ensure interoperability with other businesses. These standards differ between industries, so it is essential to check what the standards are for your industry when choosing barcodes.

Decide how you will be printing your barcodes

There are different printing methods you can use after choosing your type of barcode. However, each one comes with their own pros and cons. For example, inkjet printers are ideal for printing directly onto product packaging but barcodes aren’t always readable.

Choosing the best printer for your needs will also help you choose the right barcode for you. 

Assess the environmental conditions your barcodes will be exposed to

Lastly, it is important to consider the kind of conditions your barcodes will get exposed to. Will it be hot and humid? Are there harmful chemicals involved? Learning about the environment you will be placing your barcodes in will play a big factor in choosing the ideal type of barcode.

For example. If your barcode will be placed somewhere that will expose it to harsh conditions, a QR code might work best. This is because of its error correction levels that allow it to be readable despite up to 30% of it being damaged.

The bridge to digital information: Types of barcode readers

There are multiple types of barcode scanners available, each categorized based on the technology they use, their housing, and the barcode library they are installed in.

Technology

There are different kinds of technologies used to scan barcodes, from lasers to cameras. Generally, the barcode reader types based on the technology used include:

• Pen-type readers - use a light source and photodiode placed next to each other at the tip of a pen. This pen is scanned across the barcode and measures the intensity of the light reflected from the barcode.
• Laser scanners - use a laser beam in the same way that pen-type readers use photodiodes to read information from barcodes.
• Charge-coupled device readers -  also known as LED scanners, use an array of tiny light sensors to read and decode data.
• Camera-based readers - decode information using image processing techniques and a camera.
• Omnidirectional barcode scanners - work similarly to laser scanners, except they produce a pattern of beams to read barcodes at different orientations.
• Cell phone cameras - built-in cameras on mobile devices. Popularly used on 2D barcodes.

Housing design

The types of barcode readers based on the design of their housing include:

• Handheld scanners - barcode readers with a handle and trigger for activating the scanner.
• PDA scanners - personal digital assistants with a built-in barcode reader.
• Automatic readers - designed to read barcodes at high speed.
• Cordless or wireless scanners - battery-operated and connect wirelessly to computers for data transfer.

Installed barcode library

Most barcode readers and devices with cameras and barcode reading applications make use of special software known as barcode libraries. Examples of these kinds of libraries include Aspose.Barcode and ZBar.

QR TIGER: The number one provider of QR code solutions

It is clear that while there are several types of barcodes, each one has features that make them unique from the rest. 

Some types support alphanumeric characters, while others only encode numbers. Each barcode also encodes data in a unique way. Of course, we can’t forget about the difference between 1D barcodes and their 2D cousins.

Of all the barcode types we’ve covered in this guide, one is worth constantly observing: QR codes. 

In the future of information sharing, these black-and-white squares can hold more data and can be more secure than other barcodes. And we have the platform to give you your own.

Get in touch with us and power up your business with QR codes today.