Barcodes
General Barcode Information
The barcode is an optical data carrier that can be used to display a wide variety of information, e. g. in the form of bars of different widths. Such a barcode is referred to as a one-dimensional (1D) barcode.
Two-dimensional (2D) barcodes look like squares or rectangles containing many small, individual dots. A single 2D barcode can contain a large amount of information and can remain readable even when printed in small sizes or etched on a product. 2D barcodes are used in a wide range of industries, from manufacturing and storage to logistics and health care.
Barcode-Print and labels
The barcode is either printed directly on the packaging or the product itself, or applied to a barcode label attached to the object. Barcodes can be read in fully automatically with the help of optical readers and can be decoded at the same time. Omnidirectional barcode readers make it possible to read barcodes from any conceivable position. As a result, the barcode does not necessarily have to be kept parallel to the reader.
Reading ensures simple, secure and fast data transfer in numerous application areas. Furthermore, a barcode allows a high information density in a relatively small space. Therefore, it is also suitable for marking tasks on very small areas. In almost every branch of industry barcodes, one- and twodimensional codes are used for identification purposes.
The information contained in a barcode is uniquely defined, e. g. in the case of a 1D barcode, by different widths of dashes or spaces. There are numerous different 1D barcodes for different application areas. For example, the EAN barcode and the UPC barcode are used in retail. Code 39 and Code 93 as well as Code 128 are barcodes that are frequently used by industry.
Barcodes are created with suitable software. The (DocBridge®) software supports a number of barcode types and generates them from the information provided.
Barcode Categories
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1D Barcode
The barcode contains the complete related information in one line, starting with a start character and ending with a stop character. The barcode consists of a series of lines positioned on a bright background.
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Two-width Barcode
The barcode has spaces and bars that are either wide or narrow whose widths are remaining in a constant ratio.
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Multi-width Barcode
The bars or spaces can have more than two different widths. In contrast to the two-bar barcode, the multi-width barcode has a greater information density.
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2D Barcode
The barcode consists of two or more vertically joined rows of elements . The 2D barcodes consist either of stacked 1D codes (so-called stacked barcodes) or of matrix codes.
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Stacked Barcode
The barcode is based on linear barcodes, which are stacked with short bar lengths. In other words, a stacked barcode consists of several lines with bars and spaces.
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Matrix Code
It is a 2D code consisting of polygonal, usually quadrangular groups of data cells with a typical orientation feature, on which the code type can be recognized. Matrix codes have a high density of information which, depending on the matrix size, is about 15 times higher than that of barcodes.
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Postal Barcode
A barcode that is used in the postal system can be a 1D barcode, a 2D barcode or a 2 State or 4 State barcode. The barcode can cover many features, such as sender and address information, geographic information, and postage.