Recomendador de Simbologia

Responda a algumas perguntas sobre seu caso de uso e recomendaremos a melhor simbologia de código de barras para suas necessidades.

Pergunta de

Simbologias Recomendadas

How to Use

  1. 1
    Answer the application questions

    Work through the short questionnaire covering your use case: product type, distribution channel (retail, logistics, healthcare), data capacity needs, and substrate constraints such as label size and printing method.

  2. 2
    Review the recommended symbologies

    The recommender presents the most suitable barcode formats ranked by fit, with a brief explanation of why each is appropriate. Multiple options may appear when several symbologies are technically valid for your application.

  3. 3
    Select and proceed to generation

    Choose the recommended symbology and click through to the barcode generator pre-configured with your application's settings. Download the symbol or copy the configuration for your label design software.

About

Choosing the right barcode symbology is a critical system design decision that affects label size, printing method, scanning infrastructure, and regulatory compliance for the entire product life cycle. The barcode world divides into three broad categories: 1D linear symbologies (EAN, UPC, Code 128, Code 39, ITF, Codabar), 2D stacked symbologies (PDF417, Code 49), and 2D matrix symbologies (QR Code, Data Matrix, Aztec Code, MaxiCode). Each category has distinct capacity, density, error-correction, and reader compatibility characteristics that make it appropriate for certain applications and unsuitable for others.

For retail and supply-chain applications, GS1 publishes prescriptive guidance in its Application Standards, specifying exactly which symbology must appear on consumer unit, inner pack, and outer case packaging for each distribution channel. This removes ambiguity for global trade: a retail product entering multiple international markets must carry a GS1-compliant EAN-13 or UPC-A symbol, while its outer case must carry a GS1-128 or ITF-14 symbol encoding a GTIN-14. These requirements exist because each link in the supply chain — from scanner firmware at retail checkout to warehouse management system configuration — has been optimized for specific symbologies.

Outside of retail and logistics, the choice is more open. Healthcare direct part marking on surgical instruments and implants favors Data Matrix for its ability to mark very small metal components and survive sterilization. Airline boarding passes use Aztec Code, specified in IATA resolution 792. Library book tracking historically used Codabar (now largely replaced by Code 39 or Data Matrix in modern systems). Government identity documents use PDF417 under ICAO and AAMVA standards. Understanding which standards body governs your industry application — GS1, IATA, ICAO, AAMVA, GS1 Healthcare, ISO — is the starting point for any symbology selection decision.

FAQ

When should I use Code 128 instead of EAN-13?
EAN-13 (and its US equivalent UPC-A) is specified by GS1 for consumer retail point-of-sale and encodes a fixed 12 or 13-digit GTIN. Code 128 is a variable-length, alphanumeric symbology suitable for internal logistics, shipping labels, document tracking, and any application requiring more than numeric-only data or more than 13 characters. GS1-128 (a constrained profile of Code 128 using Application Identifiers) is the preferred format for logistics unit barcodes on cases and pallets. Choose EAN-13 for retail products scanned at checkout; choose Code 128 or GS1-128 for supply-chain and back-of-store applications.
What is the difference between QR Code and Data Matrix for industrial use?
Both QR Code (ISO/IEC 18004) and Data Matrix (ISO/IEC 16022) are 2D matrix symbologies with strong Reed-Solomon error correction, but they differ in module structure, capacity profile, and industry adoption. Data Matrix is preferred in electronics, medical device, and aerospace industries because it can encode adequate data in a very small physical footprint — as small as 1 mm × 1 mm when laser-marked directly on a component. QR Code offers higher maximum data capacity and is dominant in consumer applications due to native smartphone camera support. GS1 has standardized GS1 DataMatrix for direct part marking and healthcare unit-of-use packaging; GS1 QR Code is used in digital link and direct-to-consumer applications.
Should I use PDF417 or QR Code for document barcodes?
PDF417 (ISO/IEC 15438) is a stacked linear symbology that excels at encoding large amounts of data — up to 1,108 bytes or 1,850 alphanumeric characters — in a rectangular format well-suited to identity documents, travel documents, and government ID cards. It is mandated by ICAO Doc 9303 for machine-readable travel documents and by AAMVA for North American driver's licenses. QR Code offers higher data density in a square module pattern and better orientation independence, making it preferable for web-linked consumer applications. For document identity and government applications, PDF417 is typically the regulatory standard; for marketing and consumer engagement, QR Code is the industry default.
What barcode format should I use for pharmaceutical products?
In most global markets, pharmaceutical unit-of-sale packaging must carry a GS1 DataMatrix barcode encoding a GTIN, expiry date, lot number, and serial number using GS1 Application Identifiers — this is mandated by the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD), the US Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), and equivalent regulations in dozens of other countries. GS1 DataMatrix is chosen over linear barcodes because it encodes four data fields in a compact footprint on small ampoules, blister packs, and vials where a full Code 128 symbol would be too large. Some older drug labeling still uses Code 128 or UPC, but new registrations must comply with GS1 DataMatrix requirements.
When is Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF) the right choice?
ITF-14, the GS1-specified version of Interleaved 2 of 5, is specified for outer shipping cases and logistics units where the product quantity per case, inner pack configuration, and GTIN-14 need to be communicated on corrugated cardboard. ITF encodes only even numbers of numeric digits and offers a high-density linear format that prints reliably on corrugated substrates with flexographic presses — which is why it was selected for logistics over Code 128 for many years. For new implementations, GS1 also accepts GS1-128 as an alternative to ITF-14 on cases. Plain ITF without bearer bars and without a GS1 Company Prefix should be avoided in open trade.