Barcode Types & Symbologies

Direct Answer

Machine-readable barcodes encode data in optical patterns regulated by GS1 and ISO/IEC into linear 1D barcodes (UPC-A, EAN-13, ITF-14, Code 128) and 2D matrix symbologies (QR Code, Data Matrix) for automated point-of-sale checkout and warehouse inventory tracking.

Source: GS1 General Specifications / ISO/IEC 15420 (EAN/UPC) / ISO/IEC 18004 (QR Code) · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026

Specs

Governing Standards	GS1 Global Standards / ISO/IEC 15420 (EAN/UPC) / ISO/IEC 15417 (Code 128) / ISO/IEC 18004 (QR)
UPC-A (North American Retail)	12-digit fixed numeric (1 digit prefix + 5 digit company + 5 digit item + 1 check digit)
EAN-13 (International Retail)	13-digit fixed numeric (3 digit country code + company/item + check digit) \| Superset of UPC-A
ITF-14 (Interleaved 2 of 5)	14-digit master carton shipping barcode printed with thick protective bearer bars
Code 128 (High-Density Logistics)	Variable-length high-density alphanumeric (encodes all 128 ASCII characters) \| Used in GS1-128 shipping labels
QR Code (ISO/IEC 18004)	2D matrix (up to 7,089 numeric or 4,296 alphanumeric characters) with 4 Reed-Solomon error correction levels
Data Matrix (ISO/IEC 16022)	2D matrix ideal for tiny direct-part marking (DPM) on electronics, PCB traces, and pharmaceuticals
Quiet Zone Requirement	Minimum 10× X-dimension (narrowest bar width) white space buffer on left and right borders

Global 1D & 2D Barcode Symbology Comparison Matrix

Symbology Name	Dimension Type	Character Set Supported	Maximum Data Capacity	Check Digit Standard	Primary Global Application
UPC-A (GTIN-12)	1D Linear	Numeric digits only (0–9)	12 Digits Fixed	Modulo 10 (Luhn-like)	US & Canadian Retail Point-of-Sale
EAN-13 (GTIN-13)	1D Linear	Numeric digits only (0–9)	13 Digits Fixed	Modulo 10	European & Global Retail Point-of-Sale
ITF-14 (GTIN-14)	1D Linear	Numeric digits only (0–9)	14 Digits Fixed	Modulo 10	Corrugated Outer Shipping Cartons
Code 128 (GS1-128)	1D Linear	Full 128 ASCII Alphanumeric	Variable (~80 chars)	Modulo 103	Logistics tracking, SSCC Pallet Labels
QR Code (Model 2)	2D Matrix	Alphanumeric, Binary, Kanji	7,089 Numbers / 4,296 Chars	Reed-Solomon (L, M, Q, H)	Mobile scanning, URLs, payments, ticketing
Data Matrix	2D Matrix	Alphanumeric, Byte Data	3,116 Numbers / 2,335 Chars	Reed-Solomon ECC 200	Electronics micro-chips, surgical tools

The Modulo 10 Check Digit Calculation Formula (UPC/EAN)

To prevent optical scanner misreads, the final digit of every UPC-A and EAN-13 barcode is a mathematically calculated check digit:

Multiply all odd-position digits by 3 and sum them.
Sum all even-position digits and multiply by 1.
Add both sums together.
The check digit is the smallest number needed to round the total up to the nearest multiple of 10.