Bar codes are normally read via a red line laser scanner, or a camera with decoding and positioning software.
There are 3 main types of bar codes.
1D (one dimensional), 2D (two dimensional) and a different type of 2D code is QR (Quick response) codes that we use today.
Each code has a little different attribute and how it’s read.
1D bar codes are the ladder line bar codes you typically see in a grocery store, on merchandise and packaging.
While there are many different types of 1D bar codes and how they decipher a code the appearance is typically like the picture below.
A 2D Data Matrix code is much smaller than a 1D and can hold quite a bit more information. They can actually hold up to 2,335 alphanumeric characters.
There is redundancy built into the code, in case the code is scratched or defaced.
The code below is an example of a 2D Data Matrix code.
The code is read by utilizing a camera and decoding / positioning software.
A QR Code can hold more information than a Data Matrix code.
It can decipher numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary and kanji.
While it was 1st developed for the automotive industry tracking parts during vehicle manufacturing, it is typically linked to a website when the code is scanned with a camera in a cell phone.
An example of the QR Code is pictured below.
The code is read by utilizing a camera and decoding / positioning software.
There are various types of vision sensors that can be used to read different types of bar codes. You can learn more on Balluff’s website at www.balluff.us/vision.
