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There are lots of different bar codes. Some bar codes are numeric only, (i.e. UPC, EAN, Interleaved 2 of 5).
Some bar codes are fixed length, (i.e. UPC-A is 12 digits, UPC-E is 6 digits, EAN-13 is 13 digits, and EAN-8 is 8 digits). Some bar codes can have numbers and alphabetic characters, (i.e. Code 93,
Code 128, and Code 39). One bar code allows you to encode all 128 characters, (Code 128).
Code 39 (Code 3 of 9)
has become the most widely used symbology. Most equipment can read Code 39. The classic bar code type is Code 39, (also called Code 3 of 9) which has 9 bars and spaces; three are wide, and the other 6 are narrow. In Code 39, 3 of 9 total bars and spaces are wide; hence the name, Code 3 of 9. However, Code 39 produces relatively long bar codes; it is not particularly efficient in bar code density, (the maximum density is 9.4 characters per inch including 2 start/stop characters).
Universal Product Code (UPC)
is an early bar code standard which was developed for the grocery industry. UPC is used on every retail item, and is what most people think of when they think of bar code. It’s a fixed length, numeric only bar code, Version A contains 12 digits while version E contains 6 digits. UPC and EAN bar codes have four widths of bars and spaces.
Interleaved 2 of 5 ( I 2 of 5)
is used by the airline industry and in distribution, this symbology is numeric only. A high density code, it allows long numbers to be printed in short spaces.
Codabar
was originally developed as a symbology by UPC in 1972, Codabar has ended up as the code of choice for several diverse applications. It’s the standard symbology for blood bags, photo finishing envelopes and FedEx airbills.
Code 128
is used primarily in warehousing, distribution and health care. Each character in Code 128 has three spaces and three bars, allowing for double density encoding. Where the label width is an issue and there is numeric data or lower case data, Code 128 is the best alternative; Code 128 also has an extra efficient numeric only packing scheme to produce very dense bar codes, and Code 128 has all 128 ASCII characters. Not all readers read Code 128, so before you settle on it as a standard, be sure that your reader is 128 capable.
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Bar Code
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Variable Length
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Allowable Characters
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Industries in use
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Code 39
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Yes
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0-9,A-Z./+-%$Spc
(2 character pairings for Full ASCII)
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LOGMARS, HIBCC, AIAG,TCIF
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UPC and EAN
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No
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0-9
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Food/Discount Store Items
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Interleaved
2 of 5
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Yes
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0-9
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Shipping Container, Warehouse applications
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Codabar
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Yes
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0-9,$+.:/
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Blood Banks, Cotton, Transportation
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Code 128
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Yes
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Full ASCII
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UCC-128, EAN-128
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