What is a Barcode? How Does It Work?
A barcode is a machine-readable pattern of parallel lines that encodes data — usually a product number — so a scanner can read it in a fraction of a second instead of someone typing it in by hand. Retail checkout, warehouse inventory, and shipping labels all rely on this basic idea: encode a number as a pattern of bars, then decode it optically.
QR Code vs. Barcode — What's the Difference?
A traditional barcode is linear — it only stores data in one direction and typically holds a short numeric code. A QR code is a two-dimensional matrix that can hold far more data (URLs, contact details, WiFi credentials) and can be read from any angle, which is why they've become the default for menus, payment links, and marketing.
Types of Barcodes You Can Generate
This tool supports the most commonly used formats:
- Code 128 — alphanumeric, widely used in logistics and internal inventory
- EAN-13 — the 13-digit standard for retail products, including in India
- UPC-A — the 12-digit standard used mainly in the US and Canada
- Code 39 — an older alphanumeric format still used in some industrial settings
Barcodes for Indian Small Businesses
If you're selling on Amazon, Flipkart, or in retail stores in India, your products generally need an official GS1-issued barcode number (GTIN) — the numbers themselves are licensed and registered through GS1 India, not generated freely online. This tool is great for internal testing, inventory labels, and prototypes, but for barcodes you intend to sell products under, register your GTIN through GS1 India first.
How to Use QR Codes for Your Business
QR codes work well for restaurant menus, linking product packaging to more information, sharing WiFi credentials without typing a password, and payment links. Keep the encoded content short where possible — shorter content produces a simpler, more scan-reliable code, especially at small print sizes.
Tips for Printing Barcodes & QR Codes
Always test-scan a printed barcode or QR code before a full print run. Keep good contrast (dark code on a light background), leave a clear "quiet zone" of blank space around the code, and print at a high enough resolution — low-DPI printers can blur the fine lines of a barcode into an unreadable smudge.