Are All 12 Digit Bar Codes Registered To A Public Database

Barcode 101: Guide to Barcode Symbologies

A barcode symbol is a machine readable image which conveys data. Barcodes tin be divided into iii general types: linear, stacked linear, and 2-dimensional (or 2D): Linear Barcodes

UPC-A

The UPC-A (also referred to simply every bit the UPC) is the standard retail "cost lawmaking" barcode in the United states of america.
UPC-A is strictly numeric; the bars tin only represent the digits from 0 to ix. A UPC-A barcode contains 12 digits, along with a tranquillity (blank) zone on either side, and start, middle, and stop symbols.
The center symbol separates the left side and the correct side, which are coded differently. When a digit is used on the left side, the bars are blackness and the spaces are white, and when it is used on the right side, the colors are reversed. The logic backside doing this is a piddling complicated, and involves a mathematical property called "parity," but the effect is to reverse black and white, and to allow the scanner to tell whether it's reading the code from left to right or from right to left.

The bodily system of numbering depends on the type of production and the purpose of the barcode; the first digit of the barcode indicates the numbering organisation. The ten digits that follow contain information most the product, and in all of the applications described below, the digit on the far right (not included in the awarding description) is a checksum, which can be used to test the accuracy of the scanner reading.
Beneath is a listing of common UPC-A applications:

Typical retail products: Indicated by a first digit of 0, ane, 6, seven, or 8. The v remaining digits on the left side of the barcode are the place the manufacturer. The five digits on the right are the product code (determined by the manufacturer).

Pharmaceuticals: For drugs and some other pharmaceutical products. The ten digits that follow form the NDC (National Drug Code) number, which identifies the manufacturer (or distributor or packager), the product (along with information such as dose, force, and formula), and the size and other characteristics of the package.
Weight-based pricing: When products such as produce and meat are packaged and sold past weight, the UPC characterization begins with the number system code 2. The v digits that follow it on the left identify the item, and the ones that follow are for the product weight or the price.

Coupons: The numbering system digits 5 and nine are for coupons. Every bit with retail products, the five left-hand digits are the manufacturer identification. The five digits on the correct tell what products the coupon applies to and the discount.

Reserved: Number system 4 is reserved for use past individual retailers or wholesalers, and is often used for store coupons, customer loyalty cards, and similar items.

UPC-East

The UPC-E barcode can be used when available space is besides pocket-sized for a UPC-A barcode. it contains the same information as a UPC-A characterization, but it uses some tricks to reduce the number of digits to six.

he UPC-Due east code'due south virtually basic fox is to remove trailing zeroes in the manufacturer's code, and leading zeroes in the production code. The details of the technique are complicated, and it doesn't piece of work for everything, but it does cover all codes with a total of 5 leading/trailing zeroes, besides every bit a pregnant number of codes with four zeroes.

UPC-East uses a much more than circuitous fob to compress the checksum and the number system lawmaking. A side-result of this technique is that the just numbering system codes allowed are 0 and ane.

EAN-13

The EAN-13 code is basically an international version of UPC-A. EAN-13 adds a 13th digit on the far left side of the UPC-A code (then that information technology becomes the first digit). The EAN-13 standard includes UPC-A barcodes; adding a leading 0 to a UPC-A code turns information technology into the equivalent EAN-13 code.

The main differences between EAN-xiii and UPC-A (besides the actress leading digit) are that with EAN-13, the manufacturer and production codes can vary in length, and that the beginning three digits make up the GS1 prefix, or "state code."

The GS1 prefix is issued by GS1, the international barcode standards organization. It may identify the national GS1 member organization or a special use. The member organizations issue the manufacturer's codes, and the manufacturers set their own product codes. The complete EAN-thirteen barcode number, consisting of the GS1 prefix, the manufacturer's code, the product code, and the checksum digit, is also known as the GTIN, or Global Trade Item Number. Besides the national GS1 prefixes, typically used for standard retail items, in that location are prefixes for specialized purposes, such as coupons, refunds, serial publications (magazines and newspapers), books (ISBN), and sheet music (ISMN).

In the The states, price code scanners and point-of-sale/inventory systems are typically capable of reading both UPC-A and EAN-13 barcodes.

EAN-8

EAN-8 is a GS1 barcode for apply on small items when a full EAN-13 barcode label would exist too large to fit. It consists of eight digits — four on the left side and four on the correct. They use the same kind of encoding every bit UPC-A and EAN-xiii, with the concluding digit being used as a checksum.

An EAN-8 barcode can be used either with GTIN-8 or RCN-8 product identification numbers.
GTIN-8 is like a shortened version of the EAN-thirteen lawmaking, simply without data about the product's origin. In order to use a GTIN-8 number, a manufacturer must asking it from the national member organization. An EAN-8 barcode that encodes a GTIN-8 identification number is valid for global use, like an EAN-thirteen barcode.
RCN-8 numbers, on the other mitt, are for use only on business firm-make or shop-label products, and can be used only within the business that issues it. If information technology is scanned by another retailer, it will requite an wrong reading.

Code 128

The UTF and EAN "price code" barcodes described higher up encode only numbers, but Lawmaking 128 is a linear barcode that encodes both messages of the alphabet and numbers, making it useful for a multifariousness of purposes beyond basic pricing and inventory.
Code 128 encodes the 128-character ASCII ready, which includes all of the alphabetic, numeric, punctuation, and arithmetic characters institute on an English-language computer keyboard, plus several non-visible command characters.
In social club to include all of the ASCII characters, Code 128 uses iii different grapheme sets:

The Code A set consists of capital letters, numbers, punctuation, and nonprinting command characters

Lawmaking B is like to Code A, but replaces well-nigh of the control characters with the total set of lower-case messages, plus some added punctuation

Code C does not include any letters or punctuation; it is fabricated up of number pairs, from 00 to 99. This saves infinite when encoding numbers.

A single Code 128 barcode can include characters from all 3 character sets, switching between them repeatedly.

The bones Code 128 barcode format consists of a start code (which sets the initial character ready to A, B, or C), the code data, a checksum digit, and a end lawmaking, which marks the stop of the barcode. As with other linear barcodes, there are bare quiet zones on either side.
GS1-128 (besides known equally UCC-128 and EAN-128) is an international standard for using Code 128 in supply-chain barcode labels. GS1-128 consists of the basic Code 128 format with an Application Identifier added to the code data.

Application identifiers are two to 4 characters in length, and place the type of data that will follow — typically, standard supply-chain applications, such as serial number, number of containers, lot number, weight, volume, etc., including tracing and transaction information. Each identifier sets the length and format of the data that follows information technology.

Considering about application code information is stock-still-length, it is possible to include several codes in one GS1-128 barcode, simply past calculation new Awarding Identifiers and code data.

Lawmaking 39

The Code 39 symbology is also alphanumeric and variable-length. It was developed in 1974, and is nonetheless in relatively wide use; most barcode readers tin can read Code 39. In Code 39, each grapheme is made upward of five bars and four spaces, with three of those confined/spaces existence wide, and the others narrow. As a result, all characters accept the same width, and a Lawmaking 39 barcode generally takes up more space than the equivalent Lawmaking 128 barcode.

The basic Code 39 system is made up of 43 characters, including uppercase messages, numbers, and some special/punctuation characters. Depending on the awarding and the system, it may be possible to use all 128 ASCII characters.
A Code 39 barcode consists of a outset character, the coded information, and a end graphic symbol. Both the start and stop characters are identical, and are generally represented by the * asterisk symbol. there is no checksum character, only some error-checking capabilities are built into the coding system.
Lawmaking 39 is used for many of the same types of applications as Code 128, and official Code 39 standards (including an ANSI standard) be. Information technology is non, notwithstanding, included in the GS1 system.

Interleaved 2 of 5

Interleaved 2 of 5 (or ITF) is a variable-length numbers-but linear barcode. It encodes digits in pairs, with the first digit in each pair represented by confined, and the second digit represented by spaces, so that they are interleaved. Ii of the five bars or spaces representing each digit are wide, and the others are narrow.

Interleaved ii of 5 is included in the GS1 organisation equally the ITF-14 standard, which has a set length of 14 digits.

An ITF barcode consists of a start code (two narrow bar/narrow space pairs), the encoded data, a checksum digit (required for ITF-xiv, optional elsewhere), and a end code (wide bar, narrow infinite, narrow bar), with quiet zones on either side.
Patterns identical to the get-go and stop code tin can occur within the coded information, which can result in a bad reading if the scanner does not read the lawmaking all the way across. To prevent this, the ITF-14 standard requires a heavy black border called the bearer bar.
ITF barcodes are typically used in wholesale and shipping for box or carton lots of a product. A specialized version of the ITF barcode is also used on 135 film canisters.

Codabar

Codabar was originally developed by Pitney Bowes in 1972. It is a variable-length barcode that uses a small set of confined to encode the digits 0 through nine, and in some applications, a few symbols such as the dollar and plus signs. information technology besides includes 4 start/finish symbols (more often than not represented by A, B, C, and D). A Codabar code consists of a start symbol, the coded data, and a stop symbol. information technology is cocky-checking, although some applications exercise specify a cheque digit.

Codabar has traditionally been used past libraries, by claret banks, and for airbills past some companies such as Federal Express, and is still in use for some of those applications.

Pharmacode

Pharmacode is designed for packaging control and security in the pharmaceutical industry.

APharmacode barcode consists of ii widths of bars only, with a length of upward to 12 bars. The data is a single integer (in the range iii to 131070) encoded as a binary number. Pharmacode barcodes tin use multiple colors as an added check for packaging accuracy.

Individual pharmaceutical companies generate their own Pharmacode barcodes. They are used on the production line, where they are automatically scanned on inserts and other items being placed in the package, in order to detect mismatches.

Databar

Databar is a GS1 family of barcode standards generally intended for reduced space applications. They encode GTIN-12 (UPC-A) and GTIN-13 (EAN-13) information in a 14-digit format (with added leading zeroes). Linear barcodes in the Databar family include the Omnidirectional and Expanded codes, which can be scanned omnidirectionally, and the Truncated and Limited codes, which are designed to be read by handheld scanners only.

Omnidirectional and Expanded Databar codes are used in point-of-sale applications, like UPC-A and EAN-13. Expanded codes can include additional information such equally weight and expiration date, designated using Application Identifiers in the style of GS1-128 barcodes.

Truncated and Limited Databar barcodes are generally used in the health intendance manufacture for small-item identification.

Postal (Postnet)

Postnet is the barcode system which has been in use by the The states Postal Service for routing mail; information technology is being phased out in favor of the Intelligent Mail System, described below. Postnet codes utilise variable-superlative confined to represent digits.

A Postnet barcode typically consists of the ZIP, Nada+four, and delivery point codes, with each digit represented by five bars, two of which are full height, and the rest one-half-peak.
Postal (Intelligent Mail Barcode)

The Intelligent Mail Barcode system is replacing the Postnet organization for routing mail by the USPS. It is a 65-bar variable-peak lawmaking with four types of bar.

And IM barcode consists of the following components:

A barcode identifier containing presort data.
A service blazon identifier indicating the mail class and whatsoever requested services.
The mailer ID, representing the organization sending the item.
The sequence number, representing the recipient.
The delivery betoken Cypher code, containing the information in a Postnet barcode, described higher up.

Stacked Barcodes

Stacked barcodes are linear barcodes which are divided into segments and placed one above the other

Databar Stacked

The stacked versions of the GS1 Databar codes use the same basic encoding equally the linear Databar codes, described above, and are used in similar applications. They are particularly useful for limited-space items with labels which have very narrow linear dimensions.

The GS1 Expanded Stacked Databar can stack a series of barcodes containing product data in improver to the basic point-of-sale EAN-13 price lawmaking.

PDF417

PDF417 is a variable-height, variable-width stacked barcode made up of rows of brusque bars and spaces. It tin have as few every bit 3 rows, or as many as 90. All rows must contain the aforementioned number of data codewords, simply that number can vary from 1 to xxx.

The actual method of encoding is based on a circuitous organisation which uses about 900 codewords to represent data in different formats. This allows PDF417 to encode text, digital data (in bytes), and big numbers within the aforementioned barcode.
Each row of a PDF417 barcode consists of a showtime design, the left-had codeword (identifying the row, amid other things), the data codewords, the right-paw codeword, and the stop pattern. Unlike most second barcodes, PDF417 can be read with a light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation scanner.
PDF417 barcodes tin exist linked then that big amounts of data tin can exist scanned in sequence. This finer removes the limit in the amount of information that can be encoded, making the PDF417 format competitive with true two-D barcodes for representing big amounts of data.
The PDF417 is in use as a loftier-density barcode format in a number of applications, including:

Driver's licenses and ID cards which meet the Department of Homeland Security RealID standard.
Airline boarding passes.
Printed United States postage.

MicroPDF417

MicroPDF417 is a limited subset of PDF417 designed for situations where a full PDF417 lawmaking would be too large. Information technology places limits on the dimensions of the confined, and on the amount and format of data that tin can be encoded (up to 200 characters of upper-case text, 150 binary bytes, or 366 numeric digits). it besides places some restrictions on error-correction codewords.

MicroPDF417 is used in GS1 Databar Blended Codes, where it is combined with a linear barcode.

2d Matrix

Dissimilar stacked barcodes, true 2D matrix codes represent data in a two-dimensional array, similar squares on a chessboard. This allows them to pack a big amount of data into a compact space, and to correspond a much larger character gear up. These codes must be read with an imaging scanner, rather than a light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation scanner.

DataMatrix

DataMatrix barcodes are foursquare or rectangular arrays of blackness and white squares, or cells. Each cell is a bit, representing a one or a zero, and depending on the type of encoding, a DataMatrix barcode may be able to represent as many as two,355 alphanumeric characters.

A DataMatrix lawmaking has two unlike types of border; on one set of adjacent sides, the border is solid, and on the other 2 sides, it alternates black and white cells, which gives it the appearance of having only the two solid borders. The solid, or finder, borders let the scanner to orient the code'south prototype, while the alternating-cell, or timer, borders allow information technology to count the rows and columns.
DataMatrix codes can be extremely small, and they can be read at low contrast. This allows them to be printed or even laser-etched on small items. They can also be scaled up to a very large size for utilize on items such as heavy machinery, buildings, or railroad cars.
The bodily encoding system is complex, and includes redundant storage of data, and then if role of a DataMatrix code is lost or damaged, it may however be possible to read all of the data. DataMatrix can encode numbers and alphanumeric ASCII characters using several encoding and compression systems.
DataMatrix is used for labeling small components in the electronics industry, either with printed labels, or direct marking; they are also used in the nutrient industry for quality command.
Near smartphones tin can read DataMatrix codes, assuasive them to be used for marketing, advertizement, and other applications where smartphone admission is desirable.

QR Code

The QR (or Quick Response) Lawmaking format was originally designed for use in the Japanese motorcar industry to proceed track of parts and of cars on the assembly line. Because of its versatility, it has become widely used in a variety of industrial and consumer-oriented applications.

A QR lawmaking resembles a DataMatrix code; information technology is square (surrounded past a blank quite zone), and consists of foursquare black and white cells. Only instead of borders, it uses a ready of big position and alignment squares (and a smaller prepare of timing marks) prepare into the body of the code.
QR code can encode iv unlike types of data: numbers, alphanumeric characters, binary/bytes, and Japanese kana/kanji. Alphanumeric encoding is express to numerals, upper-case messages, and some punctuation, simply binary/byte encoding includes the ISO 8859-1 Latin-1 character prepare, which fully or partially covers the Western European languages. Kana/kanji encoding uses the JIS X 0208 character gear up. QR code can encode website URLs, allowing mobile phone users to like directly to a website past scanning its encoded URL.
The size and density of a QR code can vary, depending on the amount of data to exist stored. The maximum storage capacity is approximately seven,000 numeric characters, 4,200 alphanumeric characters, 2,900 binary characters, or 1,800 kana/kanji characters. A QR code can be broken upwardly into several smaller codes, allowing them to fit into an area in which a larger code would not fit.
QR codes take seen a rapid increment in the number and range of applications for which they are used in contempo years, in part because they can be easily read by smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. Current QQR lawmaking applications include:

Marketing, advertising, sales, and other consumer-oriented applications.
Both official and consumer identification by businesses and some government agencies. They are too used to encode electronic business concern cards and other forms of personal identification.
Tickets, visas, and other documents required for travel identification.
Financial transactions and banking information, particularly in connection with mobile banking.
In industry for tracking parts and assembly-line items, and for storing both temporary and long-term data about products, tools, and processes.
On maps and other documents to link the user to supplemental data, such as a navigational database.

The versatility, capacity, and accessibility of the QR code allows it to exist used in a variety of unusual ways. QR codes have been included on artworks, stamps, money, tombstones, statues, museum exhibits, hiking trails, comic book covers, greeting cards — just nigh anywhere that they tin fit and serve some kind of function.
The patents for the QR code are held past Denso Wave (a subsidiary of Denso, which is in plow owned by Toyota), which has chosen not to practise its patent rights, and allows use of the codes without any license requirements.
In addition to QR code reading apps, free software and web-based services for generating QR codes are readily available.

Aztec

The Aztec 2D barcode code resembles the DataMatrix and QR codes. It consists of a square of black and white cells (or pixels) with a locating symbol made of concentric squares directly in the center. The primal area (around the square bull's-eye) contains information about the symbol's size, along with other encoding data. This means that it does non require a blank quite zone or a boundary. The code also contains an internal reference grid of alternating black/white pixels at every 16th row and column.

The data is arranged in a screw from the center out; each layer of the screw is made up of two rings of pixels, adding 4 pixels to the total width. The central balderdash's-eye square plus the layer of encoding and size data together form the core, which may exist compact (11 X 11) or full (15 X 15). An Aztec symbol with a meaty core can take equally many as four layers. A symbol with a total core can have 32 layers, and can encode over 3,800 digits, 3,000 characters of text, or 1,900 bytes of binary data. Text can exist encoded as ASCII and Latin-1; the mode of encoding can be changed at multiple points within the data.
The Aztec code system is public domain, and applications are bachelor for generating codes and reading them on mobile devices. Given the similarity in design, readability, and capacity, Aztec codes could exist used in many of the applications for which QR codes are becoming popular, although in exercise, their use is more limited.
Aztec codes are, however, fairly common in the transportation manufacture. They are used on airline electronic boarding passes, and for online and mobile railway tickets in many parts of Europe.
In addition, they are used in the billing systems of several Canadian corporations, and the Polish regime uses them in its car registration system.

Maxicode

MaxiCode is a second matrix barcode which looks a bit like the Aztec code, but with a round bull's-eye centre instead of a foursquare i. A closer await shows another difference — instead of square pixels, the data is encoded in hexagonal dots which are arranged in a hexagonal design.

MaxiCode was designed for a specialized function — routing and tracking United Parcel Service packages — and that continues to be its chief employ.
Dissimilar the other 2D matrix codes described here, MaxiCode symbols have a fixed size (approximately 1 inch square) and a fixed amount of information that may be encoded (approximately 93 characters, depending on the data manner). As manyas 8 MaxiCode symbols may be linked, or chained together.
There are five data modes in current use (equally well equally two obsolete modes):

Mode 2 and 3 encode Structured Carrier Messages, which comprise package shipping and routing information. Style 2 is for domestic U.Southward. packages, and Manner three is for international shipping. These are the two modes most ordinarily used by UPS.
Modes iv and 5 are for unformatted text. Mode 4 uses standard error correction, and Mode v uses enhanced error correction.
Mode vi is used by manufacturers to program barcode scanners.

All of these modes may include a secondary message, which for UPS shipping commonly contains more detailed shipping and tracking information. In Modes 4, 5, and vi, the secondary message is effectively merged with the primary bulletin.

MaxiCode uses five lawmaking sets; a single bulletin may switch between them repeatedly. The five code sets together include the standard ASCII graphic symbol gear up plus most Latin-1 characters.