Linear Barcode (1D)
A linear or one-dimensional barcode encodes data along a single horizontal axis, in the widths and sequences of parallel bars and spaces.
What You Need to Know
Linear symbologies — Code 128, EAN-13, Code 39, ITF, Codabar, and dozens more — read left-to-right along one row. Data capacity scales with symbol length: every additional character widens the barcode. This one-axis geometry is why linear codes carry short keys (a GTIN, a serial number) and why 2D codes took over once payloads grew to URLs, manifests, and structured data.
The practical strengths of linear barcodes remain unmatched in their niche: a laser scanner can read them from across a warehouse, at any position along the bar height, on curved or moving surfaces, with cheap optics. Omni-directional retail symbologies such as EAN/UPC arrange bar heights and guard patterns so a sweeping beam at any angle can find the symbol. For pure item identification at point of sale, 1D is still the global default.
Where Linear Barcode (1D) Applies
A high-density, variable-length linear barcode that encodes all 128 ASCII characters, and the backbone symbology of modern logistics.
Generate Code 128 →The 13-digit retail point-of-sale barcode used on consumer products worldwide outside North America.
Generate EAN-13 →The classic self-checking alphanumeric barcode: 43 characters, simple structure, still everywhere in industry.
Generate Code 39 →A dense digits-only linear barcode that interleaves bar and space character pairs — logistics workhorse for numeric data.
Generate ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5) →A self-checking numeric barcode with start/stop letters, historically used by libraries and blood banks.
Generate Codabar →