A Plain English Guide to Barcode Symbologies

More than 30 different barcode symbologies are in active use today. Most people recognise the striped barcode on a supermarket tin or the square QR code on a restaurant menu – but these are just two of dozens of barcode formats, each designed for a specific purpose. Choose the wrong one and your labels could be rejected at goods-in, refused by a retailer, or fall short of NHS compliance requirements.

What Is a Barcode Symbology?

A barcode symbology is the encoding standard that defines how data gets converted into a scannable pattern of bars, spaces, or dots. Different symbologies support different character sets, data volumes, and scanning technologies – so the right choice depends on where and how your labels will be used.

There are two main families. 1D barcodes encode data horizontally using bars and spaces. They’re linear, fast to scan, and found everywhere from supermarket shelves to warehouse racking. 2D barcodes encode data both horizontally and vertically, packing far more information into a smaller footprint.

Common 1D Barcode Symbologies

EAN-13 and EAN-8: The UK Retail Standards

EAN-13 is the barcode format on almost every product sold in UK shops. It encodes 13 digits – a country code, a GS1 company prefix, a product code, and a check digit. Selling through Tesco, Asda, Ocado, or Amazon UK? You’ll need a GS1 UK company prefix. Registration is available directly from GS1 UK. EAN-8 is a compact variant for small products where a full EAN-13 simply won’t fit.

Code 128 and GS1-128: The Logistics Workhorse

Code 128 supports the full ASCII character set and encodes data compactly – the go-to choice for shipping labels, serialised products, and warehouse management systems. GS1-128 is a structured variant using Application Identifiers to carry multiple data fields in one barcode: batch number, expiry date, weight, and more. It’s the standard in food manufacturing and pharmaceutical supply chains.

Code 39 and ITF-14: Industry and the Pallet

Code 39 was one of the first barcode formats to support both letters and numbers. It’s still widely used in manufacturing, defence, and asset tracking, though it’s less space-efficient than Code 128. ITF-14 is designed for outer cartons, cases, and pallets – built to be printed directly onto corrugated board where print quality can be variable.

Common 2D Barcode Symbologies

QR Codes

QR codes are everywhere. Any smartphone can read them without dedicated hardware. On product labels, they’re increasingly used to link to allergen information, instruction sheets, video guides, or promotional content – anywhere you need to connect a physical label to digital information.

Data Matrix

Data Matrix is the 2D format of choice where label space is extremely tight. It can encode thousands of characters in a tiny area, making it ideal for electronics components, pharmaceutical unit-dose packs, and medical device labels. The NHS mandates Data Matrix codes on individual medicine doses as part of its GS1 compliance programme.

PDF417

PDF417 is a high-capacity stacked 2D format used on UK driving licences, boarding passes, and complex logistics documents. Less common on product labels, but invaluable where large volumes of structured data need to travel with a physical item.

Which Barcode Symbology Do You Need?

Choosing the Right Barcode Symbology for Your Application

Different industries have settled on firm standards. Retail uses EAN-13. Logistics relies on Code 128 or GS1-128. The NHS mandates Data Matrix. See the quick reference table below for a full summary. If you’re unsure which applies to you, a quick call to our team will sort it.

How Barcode Symbologies Affect Label Print Quality

Print resolution matters – especially for 2D formats. Data Matrix codes are unforgiving of poor print quality. Our Screen UV inkjet press runs at 600dpi and 50 metres per minute, well-suited to high-volume barcode label runs on polypropylene and other synthetic materials. For short runs or unusual label sizes, our Jetrion press includes a built-in laser die cutter – useful when you want to test format and size before committing to volume.

Quick Reference: Barcode Symbologies and Their Typical UK Uses

Frequently Asked Questions About Barcode Symbologies

Do I need to register with GS1 UK to use an EAN barcode? If you’re selling through major UK retailers or exporting to EU markets, yes. GS1 UK issues the company prefixes used to build EAN-13 and GS1-128 barcodes. Without registration, your product codes won’t be globally unique and retailers can refuse them.

Can the same label carry more than one barcode? Yes, and it’s common. A retail food product might carry an EAN-13 for point-of-sale scanning and a GS1-128 for batch and expiry traceability. Positive ID Labels designs and prints multi-barcode labels to any specification. There are new standards being implemented for this kind of labelling. Read more on the GS1 Sunrise 2027 Explainer here.

What barcode format does the NHS use? The NHS follows GS1 standards. Data Matrix is mandated on individual medicine doses; GS1-128 is required on outer packaging. NHS trusts in England must comply with the NHS eProcurement Strategy GS1 requirements.

Will any printer produce readable barcodes? Not reliably. Barcode quality depends on print resolution, ink density, and the label material. Always request a printed test sample and verify the code with a barcode verifier before committing to a full production run. 1D barcodes should be printed in ‘waterfall’ orientation and be compatible with the print head resolution, rather than ‘ladder’ format. Barcode images suchas bitmaps and jpegs are not suitable for accurate print.

What’s the difference between EAN-13 and UPC? EAN-13 is the UK and European standard. UPC-A is the North American equivalent. Both are GS1 standards and most modern scanners read both.

Can I use a free online barcode generator for production labels? For testing, yes. For production, not advised. You need verified print quality, correct substrate, and accurate sizing – poorly printed barcodes fail at scanning resulting in rejections or recalls.

Order Your Barcode Labels From Positive ID Labels

Getting the symbology right is the first step. Positive ID Labels has manufactured barcode labels for UK businesses for over 20 years – retail, food and drink, healthcare, and logistics.

Want to see the quality before committing? We offer free samples for approved enquiries. Call 01332 864895 or complete our enquiry form. Most orders ship within 3-5 days.

Also in this series: 1D Barcodes Explained | 2D Barcodes Explained | GS1 and EAN-13: A UK Guide | View our Barcode Labels

All guides are provided in good faith for information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Read our Regulatory Information Disclaimer