Barcodes are everywhere in daily life. They are a core part of modern stock management, supply chain operations and product traceability. Some formats have become the standard in specific industries, shaped by regulations and by the needs of each market.

This article gives a complete overview of the most widely used barcode types, their technical characteristics and their main areas of use. You will also see how a solution like K inventory can help you get the most out of these identification technologies.

EAN-13: the essential retail standard

EAN-13 (European Article Number, 13 digits) remains the most widely used barcode in Europe and in many other countries for identifying consumer goods.

Characteristics and structure

EAN-13 has a strict structure that makes it a very reliable identifier:

Each part of an EAN-13 code has a precise role. The first three digits are the GS1 prefix, which identifies the national GS1 organization that issued the code. The next digits are the manufacturer code and then the specific product reference, set by the company according to the allocation rules of its national GS1 organization. The last digit is a check digit, calculated with an algorithm that verifies the integrity of the code when it is scanned.

The visual layout is easy to recognize: bars of different widths grouped in four sections. Contrary to a common belief, bar height has no effect on the encoded information, but a minimum height is recommended to make scanning easier.

Standard dimensions are designed for retail, with a nominal size of 37.29 mm x 26.26 mm. The magnification factor can range from 80% to 200% depending on printing and application constraints, while keeping the code readable.

Industry applications and prevalence

EAN-13 dominates several industries:

Large retailers have adopted it as the absolute standard for identifying every product they sell. Almost every item sold in supermarkets carries an EAN-13 code, which represents several million unique items.

In many countries, the pharmaceutical industry also uses EAN-13 to identify medicines sold in pharmacies, although complementary standards such as Data Matrix are now mandatory for some additional information (batch number, expiry date) under the European directive on medicine serialization.

Publishing and the press use EAN-13 to identify books (alongside the ISBN), magazines and newspapers. This makes sales and returns easier to manage in a sector with a very large number of items and variable turnover.

To create EAN-13 codes for your products quickly, K inventory offers a free barcode generator that lets you create and print your labels in a few clicks.

Code 128: the versatile choice for logistics

Code 128 has become a reference in logistics thanks to its versatility and high data density.

Technical characteristics and advantages

Several strengths explain the growing popularity of Code 128:

Its ability to encode the full ASCII set (128 characters) is its main advantage over other one-dimensional symbologies. It can encode not only digits but also letters and special characters, which makes it suitable for many different applications.

Its high data density is a real benefit when label space is limited. For the same data length, a Code 128 is generally 30 to 40% more compact than an equivalent Code 39, while keeping excellent read reliability.

Its built-in verification features (specific start/stop characters and a check character) make it very reliable. This is why it is a preferred choice in industrial environments where read errors can have serious consequences.

The A, B and C code sets let you optimize encoding for the type of data. Code set C, very efficient for numeric data with an even number of digits, is widely used in logistics for shipping identifiers.

Main uses

Code 128 is especially common in several key industries:

Logistics and transport have adopted Code 128 on a large scale to identify shipping units, pallets and parcels. Major logistics providers use it every day to track millions of shipments.

Manufacturing uses it widely for internal traceability, component tracking and production flow management. Because it encodes alphanumeric data, it can carry information such as serial numbers, batch identifiers or complex product references.

Hospitals use Code 128 to identify patients (wristbands), biological samples and many medical devices. Its reliability makes it a preferred choice in a setting where errors can have serious consequences.

K inventory supports Code 128 natively, so it fits smoothly into your inventory management and traceability processes.

Data Matrix: the fast-growing 2D code

Data Matrix adoption is accelerating, especially in industries with strict regulatory requirements.

Technical specifics and capacity

Data Matrix has characteristics that clearly set it apart from traditional linear barcodes:

Its two-dimensional structure, a matrix of dots or squares, can encode much more information in a small space. A Data Matrix can hold up to 2,335 alphanumeric characters, compared with a few dozen for standard linear codes.

Built-in redundancy and error correction allow reliable reading even when the code is partly damaged or poorly printed. This robustness is valued in industrial environments where conditions can be harsh (humidity, abrasion, heat).

Its size adapts to the amount of encoded data, with formats from 10x10 to 144x144 modules. This flexibility makes the best use of the available space while keeping the code readable, a major advantage for small products such as medical devices or electronic components.

It needs only a narrow quiet zone around the code (narrower than QR codes), which allows more compact printing. This partly explains its popularity in the pharmaceutical industry, where packaging space is limited.

Main industries of adoption

Several industries have made Data Matrix their de facto standard:

The pharmaceutical industry adopted it following European Directive 2011/62/EU on medicine serialization. Since 2019, all prescription medicines sold in the European Union must carry a Data Matrix encoding the product code, a unique serial number, the batch number and the expiry date. This large-scale adoption has greatly strengthened traceability and the fight against counterfeiting.

Aerospace and defense use Data Matrix widely for Direct Part Marking (DPM). Companies such as Airbus, Dassault Aviation and Safran have standardized it to ensure full traceability of critical components throughout their life cycle.

The electronics industry has also adopted Data Matrix to identify printed circuit boards, components and sub-assemblies. Because it stays readable at a very small size (less than one square millimeter), it is an ideal solution for a sector where space is extremely limited.

The automotive industry, including major carmakers and their suppliers, uses Data Matrix intensively for the traceability of safety components and the management of possible recalls.

K inventory can read and generate Data Matrix codes, so you get the full benefit of this fast-growing technology.

QR Code: beyond marketing, growing industrial use

First popularized by marketing and consumer applications, the QR Code is now used in a wide range of professional applications.

Distinctive characteristics and capacity

Several features explain the growing success of the QR Code:

Its large storage capacity can encode up to 7,089 numeric characters or 4,296 alphanumeric characters. This much data opens possibilities that traditional barcodes cannot offer, such as links to online resources, full contact details or detailed descriptions.

It can be read from any angle (360°), which removes orientation constraints when scanning. Combined with the spread of smartphones that read QR Codes natively, this feature has made adoption much easier for both businesses and the general public.

Adjustable error correction levels (L, M, Q, H) let you adapt the code to the constraints of each application. Level H, the highest, can restore up to 30% of the data if the code is damaged.

Visual customization, which lets you add logos or graphic elements without affecting readability, has contributed to its wide use in company branding and communication.

Main applications

The QR Code is now used in many sectors, with increasingly advanced uses:

Restaurants and hotels adopted QR Codes on a massive scale after the COVID-19 pandemic, and many establishments now offer menus or information through a QR Code. K inventory supports this sector with inventory management that naturally includes this technology.

Public transport operators have made QR Codes widespread for digital tickets. Rail operators and most urban transport networks now use them as the standard for validating tickets bought online or on mobile.

Industry and logistics increasingly use QR Codes for applications that need more information than a traditional linear code can hold. Embedding assembly instructions, technical specifications or maintenance histories directly in the code is a clear trend.

Public administrations have also adopted the QR Code to simplify procedures for citizens. Digital identity applications and recent initiatives to digitize administrative documents rely heavily on this technology.

To create your own custom QR Codes easily, K inventory offers a free online generator.

GS1-128 (formerly EAN-128): the logistics standard

GS1-128 has become the reference for tracing logistic units across the supply chain.

Specifics and standardized structure

GS1-128 stands out for its structured approach to data encoding:

Standardized Application Identifiers (AIs) are the cornerstone of the GS1-128 system. These numeric prefixes in parentheses identify the type of information that follows: (01) for the GTIN, (10) for the batch number, (17) for the expiry date, and so on. This standardized structure ensures that all players in national and international supply chains interpret the data the same way.

Several pieces of information can be concatenated in a single barcode, so one symbol can hold key data such as product identification, batch number, production date and weight. Grouping the relevant information this way greatly simplifies logistics processes.

Its variable length adapts to the content, which optimizes the space used. Unlike EAN-13, whose structure is fixed, GS1-128 fits the specific information needs of each application.

Compatibility with international GS1 standards ensures interoperability across global supply chains, a key advantage for exporters and for companies working with international suppliers.

Main uses in industry

GS1-128 is especially common in several strategic sectors:

Large retailers and their suppliers have adopted it as the standard for identifying logistic units (cartons, pallets). The purchasing centers of major retail groups generally require it to speed up goods receipt and storage.

The food industry uses it intensively for regulatory traceability. Because it can encode the batch number, use-by date and net weight at the same time, it makes compliance with strict food safety regulations easier.

The healthcare sector uses it to trace medical devices and medicines at the level of secondary packaging and logistic units. K inventory offers solutions for this sector with native GS1-128 support.

Fast-growing e-commerce logistics relies heavily on GS1-128 to optimize order picking and shipment tracking, in a market where speed and reliability are now key competitive factors.

Code 39: a classic that persists in industry

Despite the arrival of more recent standards, Code 39 is still widely used in some industrial sectors.

Characteristics and historical advantages

Several characteristics explain why Code 39 is still around:

Its simple structure makes it one of the easiest barcodes to generate and print. This has helped it last in industry, especially in SMEs that prefer proven and accessible solutions.

It natively encodes alphanumeric data: the 26 uppercase letters, digits and a few special characters. This makes it suitable for product references or identifiers that are not purely numeric.

It reads reliably even when print quality is not optimal, which explains its use in harsh industrial environments. Its higher tolerance margin than other symbologies makes it well suited to applications where print quality can vary.

It is self-discriminating from other symbologies, which makes it easy to integrate in mixed environments where several barcode types coexist, a common situation in plants that have gone through several waves of modernization.

Preferred sectors

Code 39 remains especially common in some specific areas:

Manufacturing, particularly in more traditional segments and small industrial companies, still uses Code 39 extensively for internal traceability, production order identification and equipment tracking. Its simple implementation and compatibility with older systems explain this.

Defense still uses Code 39 for some applications because it complies with older military and NATO standards that specified it. The long service life of military equipment keeps older standards in use.

Document management and physical archiving in public administrations and large companies still rely heavily on Code 39 to identify files and documents. Its ability to encode complex alphanumeric references makes it a good fit for these applications.

The automotive sector, especially the spare parts supply chain and repair workshops, still uses Code 39 to identify components and work orders.

K inventory is fully compatible with Code 39, so companies can keep their existing systems while getting the benefits of a modern inventory management solution.

SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code): essential for logistics traceability

SSCC has become the standard identifier for logistic units in the supply chain.

Structure and specifics

SSCC has a standardized structure designed specifically for logistics:

The 18-digit format follows a strict structure: an extension digit, a GS1 company prefix (issued by the national GS1 organization), a serial reference set by the company, and a check digit calculated with the standard GS1 algorithm.

This structure guarantees global uniqueness, so each logistic unit (pallet, container, shipping carton) can be identified without ambiguity anywhere in the world. This matters especially for exporters working in international supply chains.

SSCC is usually represented as a GS1-128 barcode with Application Identifier (00), which makes it easy to integrate into automated logistics systems. This standardization ensures strong interoperability across the supply chain.

Its independence from content is a major advantage: unlike other identifiers that encode product information, SSCC is a pure identifier that links the physical unit to its associated data in information systems.

To learn more about using SSCC to optimize inventory, see our dedicated article.

Main applications

SSCC is now everywhere in several key segments of the economy:

Large retailers have standardized it for goods receipt and tracking. Major retailers now systematically require SSCC for all deliveries, which represents millions of logistic units traced every day.

The pharmaceutical industry uses it in line with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) for medicines. In this highly regulated sector, SSCC plays a crucial role in the end-to-end traceability required from manufacturers to dispensing points.

E-commerce and parcel delivery have made SSCC widespread to optimize automated sorting and shipment tracking. Major postal operators and international express carriers have built it into their operations.

Exporters have adopted it to simplify customs formalities and international shipment tracking. Using SSCC greatly simplifies documentation and improves visibility across the global supply chain.

K inventory manages SSCC natively, for full traceability of incoming and outgoing logistic units.

ITF-14: the standard for secondary packaging

ITF-14 (Interleaved Two of Five) has become the preferred barcode for identifying secondary packaging in many industries.

Distinctive technical characteristics

ITF-14 has several features that set it apart from other barcodes:

Its 14-digit structure matches the GTIN-14 (Global Trade Item Number) format, which identifies groups of identical trade items. The first digit indicates the packaging level (1 to 8 for standard groupings, 9 for variable-quantity packaging), followed by the GTIN of the base unit (without its check digit) and a new check digit calculated on the whole number.

Its robust print format with thicker bars makes ITF-14 well suited to direct printing on corrugated cardboard, a major advantage for secondary and tertiary packaging. This allows significant savings compared with applying separate labels.

Its characteristic frame of bearer bars improves read reliability by reducing the risk of partial decoding, a frequent problem on high-speed production lines where products pass quickly in front of scanners.

It can be read from a greater distance than EAN-13 or Code 128, which helps warehouse operations where codes often have to be read several meters away by fixed scanners or scanners mounted on forklifts.

Preferred application sectors

ITF-14 is especially common in several industries:

The food industry uses it extensively to identify cartons and cases containing several consumer units. In food warehouses and distribution centers, ITF-14 is on almost every secondary package and makes logistics much easier to manage.

The beverage sector (mineral water, wine, spirits) has standardized ITF-14 to identify packs and cartons. Its resistance to the humid conditions common in this industry is a decisive advantage.

Specialist retail (DIY, home appliances, furniture) relies heavily on ITF-14 to manage bulky items that are usually handled in packaging units rather than individually. Major DIY, electronics and furniture retailers use it every day in their warehouses.

The textile industry uses it to identify cartons containing several identical garments (same model, size and color). This is especially common in fast fashion.

K inventory supports ITF-14 natively, which makes receiving and shipping processes in your warehouse easier to manage.

The barcode landscape keeps evolving under the influence of several factors.

Toward faster adoption of 2D codes

Two-dimensional codes are gaining ground quickly:

A gradual transition from EAN-13 to 2D codes in retail is under way, actively promoted by GS1. Pilot retailers are already testing 2D codes that contain not only the product identifier but also additional information such as expiry dates, nutritional information or recycling instructions.