Code 39 (3-of-9)
Code 39 is the most popular, non-retail,
barcode symbology in use today, and is commonly used for ID badges and
inventory identification by government and industry. This a discrete,
variable length, self-checking, alphanumeric symbology.
Code 39 takes two forms, Regular (or Normal) and Full ASCII.
Code 93
Code 93 is a continuous, variable-length symbology capable of encoding
the full 128 ASCII character set. Very similar to the extended Code 39
format, Code 93 is denser, yielding more characters per inch and can
encode messages up to 47 characters long.
The major application for Code 93 is for labeling electronic components.
Code 128
Code 128 is variable in length and will encode between 20 and 30 characters,
depending on the data stored. All 128 ASCII chars (the full, US 101 key
keyboard and some ASCII functions such as return and tab) are available
and numeric data to be encoded at nearly double-density compared to Code
2-of-5.
Code 2-of-5, Interleaved
Interleaved Code 2 of 5 is a variable length, even numbered, numeric-only
barcode symbology. While higher density than the Standard Code 2-of-5,
its density is still relatively low. Typically used in laboratories,
industrial
distribution centers and warehouses to label shipping cartons the low
density is actually an advantage, being easier to read at a distance
and less susceptible to damage.
Codabar
Codabar is a variable length symbology capable of encoding the numbers
0-9, plus the six symbols - $ : / . + (along with four invisible stop/start
characters). Messages may be any size you like. While Codabar is the
most dense self-checking symbology it's density is much lower than Interleaved
2-of-5.
Applications for Codabar include air parcel services (FedEx airbills),
blood banks, libraries and photolabs.
PDF417
PDF417 is a 2-dimensional, bi-directional, high density, stacked symbology,
with a very large capacity. Essentially a stacked set of smaller bar
codes, each PDF417 symbol contains between 3 and 90 rows. PDF417 can
encode all 255 characters of the ASCII character set as well as 8-bit
binary date in a mixed format.
UPC
Seen on every retail item on store shelves in
the US and Canada, the Universal Product Code is the premier
symbology for retail product labeling. Used by retail stores and distributors
internationally to complete transactions, track sales and product
orders, the UPC has revolutionized the retail industry.
The standard UPC-A is a fixed
length, 1-dimensional, 12-digit, numeric (0 through 9) format.
EAN
The European Article Numbering
system is the European version of the UPC and is used
worldwide for marking retail
items. Just as with UPC, EAN numbers are assigned to specific companies
and products by a central organization.
EAN-13 is a fixed length, 1-dimensional, 13-digit, numeric (0 through
9) format. Based
on the UPC-A symbology, EAN-13 is nearly identical except for an additional
13th digit added to the front of the barcode message. Taken along with
the existing parity bit, this extra number represents a two-digit country
code.
NOTE: The UCC Council
has decided that, as of January 1, 2005, all barcode systems in the U.S.
and Canada must be able to handle
EAN-13.
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