Code 39 vs Code 93
Two alphanumeric 1D barcodes with different approaches: Code 39 uses wide/narrow encoding with self-checking, while Code 93 achieves 40% higher density using four-element patterns.
Specification comparison
| Specification | Code 39 | Code 93 |
|---|---|---|
| Classification | 1D Linear | 1D Linear |
| Symbology family | Code Family | Code Family |
| Year introduced | 1974 | 1982 |
| Developer | David Allais & Ray Stevens (Intermec) | Intermec |
| Data length | variable (1-80 characters) | variable |
| Variable length | Yes | Yes |
| Character set | A-Z, 0-9, - . $ / + % space | Full ASCII 128 |
| Maximum capacity | 80 alphanumeric characters (practical limit) | Full ASCII 128 characters, variable length |
| GS1 data carrier | No | No |
| Unicode encoding | No | No |
| Binary data | No | No |
| Minimum X-dimension | 0.19 mm | 0.19 mm |
| Nominal height | 15 mm | 15 mm |
| Quiet zone | 10X | 10X |
| Example payload | HELLO2026 | CODE93-TEST |
Highlighted rows mark specifications where the two symbologies differ.