Barcode know how, Barcodes explained

What software for what purpose?

Visit our Software Selector where you can filter by task / application, barcode symbology or operating system.

Barcode FAQ

Read about printing and scanning of barcodes, obtaining an EAN number and more in our Barcode FAQ.

Barcode Symbologies

Currently around 1,000 different barcode symbologies are known. However, only a dozen or so are in widespread use.

Linear Barcodes

Code EAN explained, EAN 8, EAN 13, JAN
Code EAN w/ AddOn (ISBN, ISSN, Bookland)
Code UPC explained, UPC-A, UPC-E
Code 39 Standard, Code 39 Extended, Full ASCII
Code 2/5 (Two-Of-Five), Interleaved, Industrial
Code 128 all variations
Code EAN 128, UCC 128, 128 GS1 all variations
NEW DataBar GS1

Pharma Barcodes

NEW PZN Barcode (Pharmacode)
NEW Laetus Barcode (Pharmacode)
COMING SOON ISBT 128 (International Society of Blood Transfusion Barcode)

2D Area Barcodes

2D Barcode PDF417
2D Barcode Datamatrix
NEW 2D Barcode QR (Quick Response)

NEW Mobile Tagging Barcodes

List of Mobile Tagging barcodes

NEW Sample Barcodes in High Resolution and Vector Formats

Code EAN 8 / EAN 13 Sample Barcodes
Code ISBN 10 / ISBN 13 Sample Barcodes
Code UPC-A / UPC-E Sample Barcodes
Code 128A / 128B / 128C / 128GS1 Sample Barcodes
Code 2/5 Interleaved / 2/5 Industrial Sample Barcodes
Code 39 Numeric / 39 Alpha / 39 Extended Sample Barcodes
Codabar Sample Barcodes
Datamatrix (2D) Sample Barcodes
PDF417 (2D) Sample Barcodes
QR Code (2D) Sample Barcodes