Generate barcodes in various formats for products.
Generate professional barcodes for products and items instantly. Create Code128, EAN-13, UPC-A, and other barcode formats for retail, inventory, and distribution.
| Format | Use | Digits |
|---|---|---|
| Code128 | General purpose | Variable |
| EAN-13 | Retail products | 13 |
| UPC-A | US products | 12 |
A barcode is a machine-readable visual representation of data. Traditional 1D barcodes (the kind found on retail products) encode numbers as a series of parallel lines of varying widths and spaces. A barcode scanner reads these lines using a laser or camera, translating the pattern into a number that a computer can look up in a database. The barcode itself does not store a product name or price — it stores an identifier that references a database record containing that information.
Barcodes were first used commercially in 1974 when a pack of Wrigley's gum was scanned at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio. Today, over 5 billion barcodes are scanned every day worldwide. They remain the fastest and most reliable method of identifying physical items at scale.
Code 128 is the most versatile barcode format, encoding all 128 ASCII characters in a compact format. It is used in shipping labels, supply chain management, healthcare, and any application requiring alphanumeric data. If you are not sure which format to use, Code 128 is almost always the right choice for internal applications.
EAN-13 (European Article Number) is the international standard for retail product identification, encoding 13 digits. The first 2-3 digits identify the country of registration, the next digits identify the manufacturer, and the final digits identify the specific product. EAN-13 is required for products sold in European and most Asian retailers.
UPC-A (Universal Product Code) is the North American equivalent of EAN-13, encoding 12 digits. Every product sold in US and Canadian retail stores requires a UPC-A barcode. UPC-A and EAN-13 are interchangeable in most modern scanning systems — a UPC-A code can be read as an EAN-13 by adding a leading zero.
QR Code is a 2D barcode format that stores URLs, contact information, and other data. Unlike 1D barcodes that require a laser scanner, QR codes can be read by any smartphone camera. They are extensively used in marketing, payments, ticketing, and product information.
Barcode generators are used across many industries. In retail and e-commerce, barcodes identify products for point-of-sale systems and online inventory management. In warehousing and logistics, barcodes on shipping labels enable package tracking at every stage of delivery. In healthcare, barcoded wristbands and medication labels reduce medication errors by verifying patient identity at the point of care. In event management, barcoded tickets enable fast, reliable entry scanning. In libraries, barcodes on books and library cards link physical items to digital catalog records.
Barcode scanning reliability depends heavily on print quality. Use laser printers rather than inkjet for barcodes — inkjet ink can bleed slightly, making lines wider than specified. Print on a white or very light background with the maximum contrast possible. Avoid printing barcodes near page edges where printers sometimes have reduced accuracy. For thermal label printers used in shipping, ensure the ribbon is not worn and the label stock is appropriate for the application (some label materials don't hold fine detail well).
For retail products sold in stores that scan at point of sale (supermarkets, department stores, etc.), yes — you need a GS1-registered barcode number. GS1 is the international organization that manages product numbering, and their system ensures barcodes are globally unique. For internal use (warehouse inventory, asset tracking, internal documents), you can use any number you choose — registration is only needed when your barcode must be recognized by external systems.
Traditional barcodes (1D barcodes) encode data as a series of vertical lines and can only be read by specialized barcode scanners or camera-based scanners. They typically encode 8-25 characters. QR codes are 2D barcodes that encode data in a grid pattern, store much more data (up to 4,000 characters), and can be read by any smartphone camera without a special app. Use barcodes for retail and logistics where dedicated scanners are used; use QR codes where smartphone scanning is expected.
The barcode image itself is free to generate and use. However, the number encoded in the barcode may need to be registered. For EAN-13 and UPC-A retail barcodes, the encoded number must be a legitimate GS1 company prefix registered to your company — using an unregistered number can cause conflicts with other products. For internal barcodes not scanned by external systems, any number works and no registration is needed.