Below are common terms used in our industry. We have outlined a few in the list below and continue to add to this list in the hope to educate users of certain terms. Let us know if you have any suggestions for below.
- Barcode
- A symbol of lines or dots that indicates data that can be read by scanning. The very first use of a barcode was in 1974 when National Cash Register Co. installed a UPC scanner at Marsh’s which was a supermarket in OH. The first item scanned was chewing gum.
- Barcode Label
- Material with a adhesive backing that has a printed bar code on the face.
- Barcode Printer
- A machine used to print the actual barcode on a label or sheet.
- Barcode Scanner
- A devise used to read the barcode and convert it into text for use in applications.
- Barcode Software
- A program that resides on a computer or mainframe that interprets text and converts it into barcode symbols.
- Direct Thermal
- The process of transferring head directly to a heat sensitive surface to make a image.
- RFID
- Radio Frequency Identification
- RFID Reader
- A fixed or portable devise that receives the signal from the chip in the tag or label and converts it to data.
- RFID Tag
- A tag or label with a chip imbedded allowing the label or tag to transmit information.
- Thermal Transfer
- The process of using heat to transfer ink or resin from a ribbon onto a surface for a bond to make a image.
- Barcode Symbology
- The code that is used to create the barcode from the text entered. The tables below link to Wikipedia pages that contain further information. Note: tables below came from Wikipedia and are thus public domain, not copyrighted.
Linear Barcode – Symbology and Defenition
- Plessey
- Catalogs, store shelves, inventory
- UPC
- North America retail
- EAN-UCC
- Worldwide retail
- Codabar
- Libraries, blood banks, airbills
- Interleaved 2 of 5
- Wholesale, Libraries
- Code 39
- Various
- Code 93
- Various
- Code 128
- Various
- Code 11
- Telephones
- Pharmacode
- Pharmaceutical Packaging
- POSTNET
- Post office
- PostBar
- Post office
- CPC Binary
- Post office
- Telepen
- Libraries, etc (UK)
Stacked symbologies consist of a given linear symbology repeated vertically in multiple.
Stacked Barcodes – Symbology and Defenition
- Codablock
- Stacked 1D barcodes.
- Code 16K
- Based on 1D Code 128.
- Code 49
- Stacked 1D barcodes from Intermec Corp.
- PDF417
- The most common 2D barcode. Public domain.
- Micro PDF417
A matrix code, also known as a 2D barcode, is a two-dimensional way of representing information. It is similar to a linear (1-dimensional) barcode, but has more data representation capability.
2D Barcodes – Symbology and Defenition
- 3-DI
- Developed by Lynn Ltd.
- Adobe LiveCycle
- From Adobe Systems.
- ArrayTag
- From ArrayTech Systems.
- Aztec Code
- Designed by Andrew Longacre at Welch Allyn (now Hand Held Products). Public domain.
- Small Aztec Code
- Space conscious version of Aztec code.
- Bullseye
- This was the barcode tested in a Kroger store in Cincinnati. It used concentric bars.
- Codablock
- Stacked 1D barcodes.
- Code 1
- Public domain.
- Code 16K
- Based on 1D Code 128.
- Code 49
- Stacked 1D barcodes from Intermec Corp.
- CP Code
- From CP Tron, Inc.
- DataGlyphs
- From Xerox PARC.
- Datamatrix
- From RVSI Acuity CiMatrix. Now Public Domain.
- Datastrip Code
- From Datastrip, Inc.
- Dot Code A
- Designed for the unique identification of items.
- HueCode
- From Robot Design Associates. Uses greyscale or colour.
- INTACTA.CODE
- From INTACTA Technologies, Inc.
- MaxiCode
- Used by United Parcel Service. Now Public Domain
- MiniCode
- From Omniplanar, Inc.
- PDF417
- Originated by Symbol Technologies Public Domain. The most common 2D barcode.
- Micro PDF417
- Facilitates codes too small to be used in PDF417.
- QR Code
- From Nippondenso ID Systems. Can encode Japanese Kanji and Kana characters. Public domain.
- Semacode
- Open standard for picture cell phones
- SmartCode
- From InfoImaging Technologies.
- Snowflake Code
- From Marconi Data Systems, Inc.
- SpotCode
- Circular barcodes for camera phones from High Energy Magic Ltd and now Shotcode.
- SuperCode
- Public domain.
- UltraCode
- Black-and-white & colour versions. Public domain. Invented by Jeffrey Kaufman and Clive Hohberger.
- VeriCode, VSCode
- From Veritec, Inc.