Types of GS1 BarCodes

Different barcode applications have different data requirements depending on their usage. To meet such diverse requirements, GS1 provides standards for use with the different bar code symbols. For example, a 13-digit GS1 code is commonly used with consumer goods whereas a "2D Matrix" symbol is increasingly becoming the symbol of choice in the healthcare sector.

Based on the symbol used to encode data, GS1 barcodes can be categorized into two broad categories:

a) GS1 barcodes with linear/1D symbols which include:

• EAN/UPC
• GS1 DataBar
• GS1-128
• ITF-14

b) GS1 BarCodes with 2D symbols which include:

• GS1 DataMatrix (‘2D matrix’ symbol)
• GS1 composite component (‘2D linear’ symbol - It is called a composite component because it is only used with a linear barcode like GS1-128 or GS1 DataBar).

Find more about GS1 BarCode types