Barcode guide
Choosing the right barcode type
Different barcode formats are designed for different purposes. Some are optimised for retail scanning, others for industrial tracking, and some are designed to store larger amounts of data such as URLs or structured information.
Zint supports a wide range of barcode symbologies including linear, stacked and matrix formats. This page gives a practical overview of the most common categories and their typical uses.
QR Codes
QR Codes are one of the most widely used modern barcode formats. They are commonly scanned using smartphones and are ideal for URLs, contact details, WiFi setup information, and general data storage.
Common barcode formats
Best for
Web links, mobile scanning, marketing, general purpose use
Key advantages
- Supported by most smartphones
- Stores large amounts of data
- Error correction improves reliability
Retail Barcodes
Retail barcode formats are designed for product identification and point-of-sale scanning in shops and supermarkets.
Common barcode formats
Best for
Retail packaging and product labelling
Key advantages
- Globally recognised standards
- Fast scanner compatibility
- Compact and reliable
Industrial and Logistics Barcodes
Industrial barcode formats are designed for warehousing, shipping, inventory management, and automated processing systems.
Common barcode formats
Best for
Shipping labels, warehouses, inventory tracking
Key advantages
- High scanner compatibility
- Compact encoding
- Supports structured data
Matrix and Small Space Codes
Matrix barcode formats are useful where space is limited or higher data density is required.
Common barcode formats
Best for
Manufacturing, electronics, compact labels
Key advantages
- High data density
- Works well on small labels
- Good industrial scanning support
Document and Transport Codes
Some barcode formats are designed specifically for transport, identification documents, or structured multi-line data.
Common barcode formats
Best for
Transport, tickets, ID cards, structured data
Key advantages
- Can hold large amounts of information
- Designed for specialised workflows
- Supports error correction
Barcode comparison overview
The table below gives a simplified comparison of several commonly used barcode formats.
| Barcode | Best use | High data capacity | Smartphone friendly |
|---|---|---|---|
| QR Code | URLs and general data | Yes | Yes |
| Code 128 | Logistics and inventory | Medium | Limited |
| EAN-13 | Retail products | Low | Rarely |
| Data Matrix | Industrial labels | High | Sometimes |
| PDF417 | Documents and IDs | Very high | Limited |
Explore all supported barcode formats
Zint supports many additional barcode symbologies beyond the examples shown on this page, including postal codes, GS1 formats, stacked barcodes and specialist industrial standards.