Bar-code Formats
Types of Barcode Symbologies
Barcode symbologies are now widely applied to the trade business, industrial, documentation, warehousing and traffic transportation. The barcode symbologies benefit in great precision, cost reduction and efficient in most of the working processing.
Below table is a brief introduction of the several types of barcode for your reference.
| Category | Sample | Description | Features |
| UPC-A |
 |
The UPC-A Code and the assignment of manufacturer ID numbers are controlled in the U.S.A. by the Uniform Code Council. It is mainly used in the retail products in the USA and Canada. |
-Support digits 0-9 -12 characters length |
| UPC-E |
 |
It is the simplified version of UPC-A code |
-Support digits 0-9 -8 characters length |
| EAN-13 |
 |
EAN-13 is commonly used for commodities in worldwide. IANA controls and assigns the authorities of each member countries. Those barcodes must be allotted and approved by these Authorities. The Authority of Hong Kong is HKANA. |
-Support digits 0-9 -13 characters length |
| EAN-8 |
 |
It is the shortened version of the EAN-13 code. |
-includes digits 0-9 -8 characters length |
| C39 |
 |
Code 39 is able to consist of alphabets and numbers. It is therefore widely used in many industries even in libraries and hospitals. | -includes the digits 0-9, the letters A-Z and the following symbols: 、+ - * / % $ |
| C128 |
 |
C128 can be varied by length. It is much complicated than the above barcodes since it can support longer characters. It has therefore higher flexibility in usages. |
-includes all -numeric and alphanumeric data |