GS1 एप्लिकेशन पहचानकर्ता: बारकोड डेटा शब्दकोश
A practical reference for GS1 Application Identifiers (AIs) — the numeric prefixes that define batch numbers, expiry dates, serial numbers, and weights.
GS1 Application Identifiers: The Barcode Data Dictionary
Application Identifiers (AIs) are numeric prefixes that define the meaning and format of data fields within GS1 barcodes. They transform a barcode from a simple identifier into a structured data carrier that encodes batch numbers, dates, weights, serial numbers, and more.
How AIs Work
An AI is a 2-4 digit prefix that tells the receiving system:
- What type of data follows (GTIN, batch number, date, etc.)
- How long the data field is (fixed or variable length)
- How to interpret the data (numeric, alphanumeric, date format)
AIs are used in GS1-128, GS1 DataMatrix, and GS1 DataBar Expanded barcodes.
Most Common AIs
| AI | Data Content | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| (00) | SSCC | N18 | Fixed 18 |
| (01) | GTIN | N14 | Fixed 14 |
| (02) | Content GTIN | N14 | Fixed 14 |
| (10) | Batch/Lot | X..20 | Variable up to 20 |
| (11) | Production date | N6 (YYMMDD) | Fixed 6 |
| (13) | Packaging date | N6 (YYMMDD) | Fixed 6 |
| (15) | Best before date | N6 (YYMMDD) | Fixed 6 |
| (17) | Expiration date | N6 (YYMMDD) | Fixed 6 |
| (21) | Serial number | X..20 | Variable up to 20 |
| (37) | Count of items | N..8 | Variable up to 8 |
| (310n) | Net weight (kg) | N6 | Fixed 6 |
| (320n) | Net weight (lb) | N6 | Fixed 6 |
The "n" in weight AIs indicates decimal point position: AI(3103) means 6 digits with 3 decimal places (e.g., 001500 = 1.500 kg).
Date Formats
All GS1 dates use YYMMDD format:
- 260315 = March 15, 2026
- 261200 = December 2026 (day 00 means last day of month)
Years 51-99 are interpreted as 1951-1999; years 00-50 as 2000-2050.
Field Separators
Fixed-length AI fields do not need separators. Variable-length fields must be terminated by FNC1 (Function Code 1) unless they are the last field in the barcode. When transmitted by the scanner, FNC1 appears as GS (Group Separator, ASCII 29).
Concatenation Examples
Multiple AIs in a single barcode:
(01)09506000134352(17)260315(10)LOT-A42(21)SN001
The scanner transmits:
01095060001343521726031510LOT-A42[GS]21SN001
Note the GS separator after LOT-A42 (variable-length field) but not after the date (fixed-length).
AI Reference by Category
- Identification: 00 (SSCC), 01 (GTIN), 02 (Content), 253 (GDTI), 414 (GLN)
- Dates: 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 (various date types)
- Measures: 310n-369n (weight, dimensions, area, volume)
- Trade data: 10 (Batch), 21 (Serial), 22 (Secondary data), 30 (Count)
- Logistics: 37 (Count), 00 (SSCC), 402 (Shipment ID)
Implementation Guidelines
- Always validate AI data against the expected format before encoding
- Use FNC1 separators correctly between variable-length fields
- Test with trading partners to ensure their systems parse your AIs correctly
- The complete AI reference is maintained in the GS1 General Specifications document (Section 3)