MicroPDF417
The reduced-footprint PDF417 variant standardized for GS1 Composite components and small industrial labels, up to 366 bytes.
MicroPDF417 Specification
| Character set | Byte compaction up to 366 bytes; numeric and text modes |
| Data length | Up to 366 bytes |
| Check digit | Reed-Solomon error correction per configuration |
| Density | Fixed layouts from 1×4 to 4×44 columns × rows |
| Module width (X-dimension) | Minimum row height 4X; cell-based |
| Print ratio | Rectangular cell grid (aspect per configuration) |
| Magnification | Configuration-dependent |
| Quiet zone | 2X on all sides (1X above/below in tight variants) |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 24728 |
| Origin | Symbol Technologies (PDF417 lineage, Ynjiun Wang), 2002 |
Not generated by barcodegen.net
MicroPDF417 is documented here for completeness, but our free generator does not produce this symbology. The closest supported format is PDF417.
What Is MicroPDF417?
MicroPDF417 (ISO/IEC 24728) trims PDF417 to fixed column counts (1-4) and row counts (4-44), dropping the row indicators in favor of a fixed layout identified by a unique start pattern per configuration. It carries up to 366 bytes and is chosen where a full PDF417 would be too large but a linear code is too limited.
Its most visible industrial role is as the linear component host in GS1 Composite codes — a MicroPDF417 can carry the 2D composite portion above an EAN/UPC or GS1-128 base — and in high-density electronics and healthcare marking per ISO/IEC 15434. For general use, full PDF417 or Data Matrix covers the same needs with broader tooling.
Common Applications
- GS1 Composite code linear host component
- High-density electronics and healthcare marking
Related Barcode Types
A stacked-linear 2D code carrying up to 1,850 text characters — the workhorse of IDs, boarding passes, and transport documents.
Code 128 carrying GS1 Application Identifier element strings — the standard barcode of global logistics.
A compact 2D matrix code with fixed Reed-Solomon error correction — the standard for pharma serialization and tiny parts.