Linear symbology
GS1 DataBar
GS1 DataBar encodes a full 14-digit GTIN in substantially less space than an EAN-13, which is why it is the symbology on loose produce and small items at grocery point of sale. It carries the GTIN under Application Identifier (01) and is read by retail scanners in the same sweep as a linear retail code.
Specification
These are the values the editor enforces while you design, not figures collected from elsewhere — the same numbers its quiet-zone and resolution checks run on.
| Property | Value | In context |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum X-dimension | 0.264 mm | 0.0104 in · 10 thou |
| Quiet zone | Not required | No clear margin is required by the specification |
| Dimensionality | Linear (1D) | Read by laser or imager |
GS1 DataBar at 203, 300 and 600 dpi
A printer can only place whole dots, and 0.264 mm is not a whole number of them at any of these resolutions. What changes is how much a single dot of rounding costs you as a share of the narrow bar.
| Resolution | Narrow bar in dots | Printed as | Rounding error |
|---|---|---|---|
| 203 dpi | 2.11 | 2 dots | 5% |
| 300 dpi | 3.12 | 3 dots | 4% |
| 600 dpi | 6.24 | 6 dots | 4% |
What GS1 DataBar encodes
A GTIN-14 introduced by Application Identifier (01). Entered as (01) followed by 14 digits. The DataBar family has several variants for different space and data requirements; this is the omnidirectional form used at grocery retail.
Where it is used
- Loose produce and variable-measure grocery items
- Small retail items where a full EAN-13 does not fit
- Coupons and promotional codes at grocery point of sale
Check digit
Starting from the rightmost data digit and working left, multiply the digits alternately by 3 and 1, add the results, then subtract the total from the next multiple of ten. The remainder is the check digit. The editor computes it for you, and accepts the value either with or without it.
How GS1 DataBar fails in practice
- Assuming every retail scanner reads it. DataBar support is widespread in grocery but not universal across all retail sectors, so confirm with the retailer before committing packaging to it.
- Entering the GTIN without the (01) Application Identifier, which produces a value the encoder rejects.
- Treating it as a general-purpose small barcode. It is a GS1 retail symbology and expects a real GTIN.
When to use something else
- EAN-13 — choose it instead when the pack has room and you want the symbol every retail scanner in the world reads.
- Data Matrix — choose it instead when the scanning environment uses imagers and you want the smallest possible symbol.
Questions about GS1 DataBar
- Why does DataBar need less space than EAN-13?
- It uses a more efficient encoding and a finder pattern that lets the scanner locate the symbol without the wide clear margins a linear retail code depends on. That is what makes it viable on items where EAN-13 does not fit.