Create customizable 1D and 2D barcodes for retail, inventory, logistics, manufacturing, publishing, healthcare and product identification.
Generate sequential Code 128 barcodes for warehouse SKUs, asset tags, inventory labels, and other internal identifiers.
Quick answer: Premium Barcode Studio supports 27 linear, matrix, stacked, retail, postal and specialist barcode formats. Generation happens in your browser. Choose a format, enter valid data, review the preview, then export SVG, PNG, WEBP or JPG.
The sequential batch tool is specifically for Code 128. It supports an optional prefix, a numeric starting value and up to fifty generated labels.
Use the format expected by the receiving workflow. A barcode can render correctly and still be unsuitable when another standard, identifier type or data syntax is required.
EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A and UPC-E serve retail identification workflows. EAN-2 and EAN-5 are supplemental add-ons. Retail identifiers must follow the applicable issuing and trading-partner requirements.
Code 128 is flexible for internal alphanumeric labels. Code 39, Code 93, Code 11, Interleaved 2 of 5 and MSI Plessey support workflows that require those formats.
ITF-14 is used for cases and cartons in applicable supply-chain workflows. ISBN supports book identifiers after the underlying ISBN has been properly assigned.
Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec Code, Micro QR, MicroPDF417, MaxiCode, GS1 DataMatrix and GS1 QR Code cover different compact, structured and specialist workflows.
Linear formats include Code 128, Code 93, Code 39, Code 11, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-2, EAN-5, ISBN, ITF-14, Interleaved 2 of 5, MSI Plessey, Pharmacode, PZN and Codabar.
Matrix formats include Data Matrix, GS1 DataMatrix, Aztec Code, Micro QR, GS1 QR Code and MaxiCode. PDF417 and MicroPDF417 use stacked structures, Codablock F is a stacked barcode family, and USPS Intelligent Mail is a specialized postal barcode.
The right format is the one accepted by the system that receives the data. Always verify the required syntax, identifier ownership, dimensions and print rules for the real workflow.
GS1 Ambition 2027 is the industry goal for retail point-of-sale systems to be capable of reading and processing defined GS1-compliant 2D barcodes in addition to existing linear retail barcodes by the end of 2027.
The transition is gradual. Existing linear retail barcodes do not simply disappear on a fixed date, and implementation depends on market, retailer, scanner and trading-partner readiness.
GS1-enabled 2D carriers can support product identity plus additional structured data or digital links, depending on the selected carrier and syntax. Production packaging should follow current GS1 specifications and trading-partner requirements.
| Format | Type | Typical data | Primary use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Matrix | 2D matrix | Text, numeric or binary | Compact industrial and healthcare labels |
| PDF417 | Stacked 2D | Text, byte or numeric | IDs, tickets and structured records |
| Code 128 | Linear 1D | Printable ASCII data | Warehouse, shipping and internal inventory |
| Code 93 | Linear 1D | Alphanumeric data | Compact and established inventory systems |
| EAN-13 | Linear 1D | 13 digits | Retail GTIN-13 |
| EAN-8 | Linear 1D | 8 digits | Small-package retail identification |
| UPC-A | Linear 1D | 12 digits | Retail GTIN-12 |
| ISBN | Retail / publishing | ISBN / EAN numeric data | Book identification |
| Code 39 | Linear 1D | Uppercase alphanumeric | Industrial and established asset workflows |
| ITF-14 | Linear 1D | 14 digits | Cases and shipping cartons |
| MSI Plessey | Linear 1D | Numeric data | Legacy inventory and shelf systems |
| Pharmacode | Linear 1D | Numeric value | Pharmaceutical production control |
| Codabar | Linear 1D | Numeric plus supported symbols | Libraries, laboratories and established systems |
| Aztec Code | 2D matrix | Text or binary data | Tickets and compact 2D workflows |
| Micro QR | 2D matrix | Short text or numeric data | Compact data where symbol area is limited |
| GS1 DataMatrix | 2D matrix | GS1 structured data | Supply-chain and traceability workflows |
| GS1 QR Code | 2D matrix | GS1 structured data | GS1-enabled product and supply-chain workflows |
| MicroPDF417 | Stacked 2D | Text, byte or numeric | Compact structured-data workflows |
| Codablock F | Stacked barcode | Text or numeric data | Multi-row industrial identification |
| MaxiCode | 2D matrix | Text or structured data | Transport and logistics workflows |
| UPC-E | Linear 1D | Compressed UPC numeric data | Small retail packages |
| EAN-2 Add-on | Linear add-on | 2 digits | Supplemental retail data |
| EAN-5 Add-on | Linear add-on | 5 digits | Supplemental retail and publishing data |
| Code 11 | Linear 1D | Digits and hyphen | Numeric identification workflows |
| Interleaved 2 of 5 | Linear 1D | Numeric data | Warehouse and industrial labels |
| PZN | Linear 1D | Numeric PZN identifier | German pharmaceutical identification |
| USPS Intelligent Mail | Postal 4-state | Routing and tracking data | USPS letter and flat mail workflows |
Character sets, capacities, check digits and print requirements differ by standard. Successful rendering does not by itself prove compliance with the final operational specification.
A generator creates machine-readable artwork; it does not assign ownership of a retail, publishing, postal or regulated identifier.
Retail GTIN workflows commonly use EAN, UPC and ITF carriers and must follow the applicable GS1 rules. ISBN values must be properly assigned before being represented as book barcodes.
Internal Code 128, Code 39, Code 93 and other private workflows may use organization-defined identifiers when the receiving system permits them. Keep those identifiers unique and connected to the database that owns their meaning.
The current batch workflow is Code 128-only. Enter an optional prefix, a numeric starting value and a quantity from 1 to 50.
Leading zeroes in the starting value are preserved. The studio previews each Code 128 symbol and provides an individual PNG download for every generated item.
Batch generation creates barcode artwork only. It does not create inventory, ERP or product records and does not allocate regulated identifiers.
Barcode intelligence provides preflight assistance for the selected format, input and visual design. It is not a certification of standards compliance or scanner performance.
Final reliability also depends on output dimensions, quiet zones, printer characteristics, material, contrast, curvature, glare, scanner hardware and receiving-system configuration.
SVG keeps vector edges scalable. PNG is useful for common digital and document workflows, WEBP provides another raster option, and JPG should be used carefully for barcode artwork because lossy compression can soften edges.
Preserve the generated aspect ratio and quiet zones. Test the final output at its real physical size and on the actual substrate with the scanners used in production.
Print resolution alone does not guarantee barcode quality. Follow the dimensional and quality requirements of the selected standard and receiving workflow.
Open a question to see its concise answer.
Select a format, enter your data, review the live validation and preview, customize the output, then download SVG, PNG, WEBP, or JPG. Barcode construction happens in your browser and no account is required for static generation.
Choose the format required by the receiving system. EAN and UPC formats are common in retail, ITF-14 is used for cases and cartons, and Code 128 is widely useful for internal inventory and logistics. GS1 identifiers and regulated workflows have additional requirements beyond generating the symbol image.
The generator creates barcode artwork from the data you provide. Retail readiness also depends on having the correct licensed identifier, the required symbol specification, acceptable print quality, placement, dimensions and trading-partner requirements.
Retail identifiers such as GTINs generally need to be properly licensed or assigned within the applicable GS1 system. Internal warehouse, asset and private identification workflows can often use organization-defined values when no external standard or receiving partner requires otherwise.
Barcode is a broad category that includes linear, stacked and matrix formats. QR Code is one two-dimensional barcode family. Barcode Studio also supports formats such as Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec, GS1 DataMatrix, GS1 QR Code and Micro QR for workflows that require them.
Yes. Barcode Studio supports SVG export across the currently supported formats, along with PNG, WEBP and JPG. SVG is useful for workflows that need scalable vector artwork, while raster formats are convenient for documents, websites and image-based applications.
The current batch workflow generates Code 128 sequences. Enter an optional prefix, a numeric starting value and a quantity of up to fifty labels. The studio previews each Code 128 barcode and provides an individual PNG download for each generated value.
GS1 Ambition 2027 is the industry goal for retail point-of-sale systems to be capable of reading and processing defined GS1-compliant two-dimensional barcodes in addition to existing linear retail barcodes by the end of 2027. Adoption and transition timing vary by market and trading partner.
Linear barcodes represent data with bars and spaces. Matrix and stacked formats use two-dimensional structures that can carry more or differently structured data. The correct choice depends on the standard and scanner used by the receiving workflow.
For private internal identifiers you can generally define values that fit the selected symbology and your own database rules. Externally governed identifiers such as retail GTINs, ISBNs, postal data and other regulated identifiers must follow the applicable issuing and industry requirements.
Resolution is only one part of barcode print quality. Physical dimensions, module or bar width, quiet zones, contrast, printer characteristics, substrate and the applicable barcode specification all matter. Test the final production label with the scanners used in the real workflow.
Yes. Static barcode generation runs directly in the browser without requiring an account. Select a supported format, enter the value, review the output and export the barcode.
Quick answer: The 27-format Barcode Studio includes 14 specialist formats in addition to the original dedicated barcode tools. Choose the required format in the Studio, enter data that follows that symbology and receiving system, review the generated symbol, and test the final output with the scanner or workflow that will actually use it.
The correct barcode is determined by the receiving system rather than by appearance alone. Retail, GS1, postal, pharmaceutical and other governed workflows may also require correctly assigned identifiers or specific data syntax; generating the image does not create or license the underlying identifier.
Aztec Code is a two-dimensional matrix symbology specified by ISO/IEC 24778:2024. It supports error-control coding and compact symbols for systems that explicitly require Aztec Code.
Use the Aztec Code generator when your ticketing, identification, transport or other receiving workflow names Aztec as the required symbology. Confirm capacity, dimensions and scanner compatibility before production.
Micro QR is a compact member of the QR Code family with one position-detection pattern instead of the three used by a conventional QR Code. It is designed for smaller print areas and carries less data than a standard QR Code.
Use the Micro QR generator for short data where symbol area is limited and the target scanner supports Micro QR. Do not assume that every QR reader accepts every Micro QR version.
GS1 DataMatrix is the GS1 application of Data Matrix. It uses GS1 Application Identifiers to identify structured fields such as a GTIN, batch or lot number, serial number and expiry date, and uses FNC1 according to GS1 rules.
Choose GS1 DataMatrix when the receiving supply-chain, healthcare or traceability system explicitly expects it. For ordinary unstructured Data Matrix data, use the Data Matrix generator instead.
GS1 QR Code is a QR-based GS1 data carrier that can encode GS1 Application Identifiers. GS1 also supports QR Code in GS1 Digital Link workflows, where structured product data can be represented in a web-compatible URI.
Use the GS1 QR Code generator only when the receiving system specifies GS1 QR and confirm the required syntax. A normal consumer QR Code and a GS1-structured QR workflow are not interchangeable simply because both symbols look like QR Codes.
MicroPDF417 is a compact stacked barcode intended for structured data where less symbol area is available than for a full PDF417 symbol.
Use MicroPDF417 only when the receiving specification calls for it. If the workflow expects standard PDF417, use the PDF417 barcode generator instead.
MaxiCode is a two-dimensional matrix symbology associated with transport and logistics applications. It is distinct from QR Code, Data Matrix and Aztec Code and must be decoded by systems that support MaxiCode.
Use the MaxiCode generator when a carrier, logistics platform or receiving specification explicitly requires MaxiCode. Validate the required message structure before using generated artwork operationally.
UPC-E is a compact retail barcode that represents an eligible GTIN-12 using GS1 zero-suppression rules. It does not turn an arbitrary six-digit number into a valid retail identifier.
Use UPC-E for eligible small-package retail items when the trading partner accepts it. If the full UPC-A representation is required, use the UPC-A barcode generator.
EAN-2 is a two-digit supplemental symbol used alongside a main EAN or UPC barcode. It carries supplementary information defined by the applicable publishing or retail workflow.
EAN-2 is an add-on rather than a substitute for the main product barcode. Confirm that the receiving system uses the two-digit supplement and what the two digits mean in that workflow.
EAN-5 is a five-digit supplemental barcode used with a main EAN or UPC symbol. It appears in publishing and other workflows where five additional digits are required.
The EAN-5 symbol is not the ISBN itself and is not intended to replace the main barcode. For books, see the ISBN barcode generator and follow the distributor's requirements for supplemental price information.
Code 11 is a linear symbology designed primarily for numeric data and the hyphen character. It remains useful in systems that specifically require Code 11.
Use the Code 11 generator for compatible legacy, asset or numeric-identification workflows. Do not choose it merely because the input contains numbers; use the symbology named by the receiving system.
Interleaved 2 of 5 is a numeric linear barcode used in industrial, warehouse and established logistics workflows. It is the underlying symbology used by the more specialised ITF-14 application.
Use generic Interleaved 2 of 5 only when the receiver expects that format. For a GTIN-14 on shipping cases, use the dedicated ITF-14 barcode generator and follow GS1 requirements.
Codablock F is a multi-row stacked symbology based on the Code 128 character set. It is designed for workflows that need Code 128-style data arranged across multiple rows.
Use Codablock F where the receiving system explicitly supports it, including applicable HIBC and specialist industrial workflows. A standard Code 128 reader or requirement should use Code 128 instead.
The USPS Intelligent Mail barcode, or IMb, is a 65-bar four-state postal barcode for routing and tracking letter and flat mail. USPS specifies a 20-digit tracking code plus an 11-digit routing code when routing data is included.
Use the Intelligent Mail generator only with correctly constructed USPS mail data. Generating the bars does not create a mailer identity, routing assignment or USPS eligibility.
PZN stands for Pharmazentralnummer. IFA assigns the eight-digit identifier used in the German market for medicinal products, medical devices and other pharmacy-typical products.
Use the PZN generator to render a PZN that has already been correctly assigned for the product. The barcode generator cannot allocate a PZN or create an IFA database record.
Data Matrix is the underlying 2D symbology and can carry general data. GS1 DataMatrix uses that symbology with GS1-specific structure, including Application Identifiers and FNC1. Use GS1 DataMatrix only when the workflow expects GS1-formatted data.
Both can represent a GTIN-12, but UPC-E uses zero-suppression to encode eligible GTIN-12 values in a smaller retail symbol. Not every UPC-A value is eligible to be represented as UPC-E.
No. EAN-2 and EAN-5 are supplemental add-on symbols intended to appear with an appropriate main EAN or UPC barcode. Their additional digits are interpreted according to the publishing or retail workflow using them.
Use Micro QR when the receiving system supports it, the data is short and available print area is limited. Standard QR Code has greater capacity and broader general-purpose reader support.
No. The generator turns supplied data into barcode artwork. Identifiers governed by GS1, IFA, USPS or another issuing system still need to be assigned and formatted according to the rules of that system.
Start with the specification of the system that will scan or process the barcode. Choose that required symbology, follow its data rules, preserve the required dimensions and quiet zones, then test the final digital or printed symbol with the real receiving equipment.