Data Matrix
A compact 2D matrix code with fixed Reed-Solomon error correction — the standard for pharma serialization and tiny parts.
Data Matrix Specification
| Character set | ASCII by default; extended via ECI (UTF-8 and other code pages) |
| Data length | Up to 3,116 numeric / 2,335 alphanumeric / 1,556 bytes (ECC 200, 144×144) |
| Check digit | No check digit; fixed Reed-Solomon ECC 200 correction (up to ~25% damage recoverable on large symbols) |
| Density | 100-500 characters per cm² — the highest density of the common 2D symbologies |
| Module width (X-dimension) | 0.20-0.50 mm printed; 0.05-0.10 mm possible in laser direct-part marking |
| Print ratio | Square or rectangular grid of uniform modules |
| Magnification | Symbol size scales in module counts; 10×10 minimum for full character sets |
| Quiet zone | 1 module on all sides — the smallest of any 2D symbology |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 16022 (ECC 200); AIM USS Data Matrix |
| Origin | ID Matrix (later Acuity CiMatrix / RVSI), 1994 |
| Sample data | This is Data Matrix! |
Try It: Generate a Data Matrix Barcode
This live generator is preconfigured for Data Matrix. Adjust size, colors, and text — then download as PNG or SVG. Free, no signup, all encoding happens in your browser.
What Is Data Matrix?
Data Matrix is a 2D matrix symbology standardized as ISO/IEC 16022, encoding data in square or rectangular modules between 10×10 and 144×144 (ECC 200). Solid L-shaped edges on two sides form the finder pattern while alternating modules on the other two form the timing track, letting a reader locate and sample the grid from a single corner. ECC 200, the modern construction, applies fixed Reed-Solomon error correction whose strength scales with symbol size.
It is the champion of small-and-permanent marking: up to 3,116 digits or 2,335 alphanumeric characters fit in 144 modules, and with only a one-module quiet zone it squeezes onto surgical instruments, PCBs, and vial caps — often via direct part marking with lasers or dot peening. Regulation sealed its dominance in pharmaceuticals: EU FMD and US DSCSA serialization both standardize on Data Matrix for pack-level identifiers, making it the most-scanned 2D code in medicine.
Common Applications
- Pharmaceutical serialization (EU FMD, US DSCSA)
- Direct part marking on medical devices and electronics
- Small-item identification in aerospace and electronics
- Document and coupon authentication
Related Barcode Types
The dominant 2D matrix barcode: up to 7,089 digits in a square symbol with selectable error correction.
A compact matrix code with a bullseye finder and no quiet zone — popular on rail tickets.
A stacked-linear 2D code carrying up to 1,850 text characters — the workhorse of IDs, boarding passes, and transport documents.
Data Matrix FAQ
Data Matrix vs QR Code — which is better for small labels?
Data Matrix, on both density and margin. It needs only a one-module quiet zone versus QR's four, and its fixed ECC keeps damaged small symbols readable. QR Code wins for consumer-facing applications because every phone camera and marketing scanner recognizes it natively; for industrial marking under 10 mm square, Data Matrix is the standard answer.
Can I choose the error correction level in Data Matrix?
No — unlike QR Code, ECC 200 correction is fixed by symbol size. Larger symbols carry proportionally more redundant codewords automatically. This removes a configuration choice (and a user error source), which is one reason regulated industries prefer it.
What is ECC 200?
The current Data Matrix construction, using Reed-Solomon coding over the full symbol. Symbols built before its introduction (the old ECC 000-140 convolutional codes) are obsolete and unsupported by modern scanners. All Data Matrix you generate today — including on this site — is ECC 200.