Barcodes
One-dimensional codes follow different rules from QR: the number usually has to come from somewhere official, the format is decided by where the label goes, and laser scanners are stricter about contrast than a phone camera is.
Barcodes
What is the difference between a barcode and a QR code?
A traditional barcode is one-dimensional: vertical lines encoding a short string of digits or characters, read horizontally, typically holding under 50 characters. A QR code is two-dimensional, holding far more data (URLs, contact cards, Wi-Fi credentials) with error correction and any-angle scanning. Barcodes remain the standard for retail checkout and logistics; QR codes are better for connecting people to digital content.
How do I create a barcode?
Open the Barcode Generator, choose a format, and type your content. The barcode renders instantly. The generator validates your input against the chosen format’s rules (for example, EAN-13 requires 12 or 13 digits) and explains what each format expects. Then download as PNG, JPG, WebP or SVG, or copy it to the clipboard. Everything happens in your browser.
Which barcode formats does ScanMe Online support?
Twenty one-dimensional formats: Code 128 (plus its A, B and C variants), EAN-13, EAN-8, EAN-5, EAN-2, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 39, ITF-14, ITF, the MSI family (five variants), Pharmacode and Codabar. Code 128 suits general-purpose use with full ASCII support; EAN and UPC are the worldwide retail standards; ITF-14 is used on shipping cartons; Codabar appears in libraries and blood banks; Pharmacode in pharmaceutical packaging.
Can ScanMe Online assign official UPC numbers for retail products?
No, and no barcode generator can. ScanMe Online renders a scannable barcode image from a number you already have. Official UPC/EAN numbers (GTINs) for retail products are issued exclusively by GS1, the global standards body, through membership or single-GTIN purchase at gs1.org (gs1us.org in the US). Generating an image of a made-up number does not register anything, and retailers will reject unlicensed numbers. Once GS1 assigns your numbers, you can use ScanMe Online to render them as barcode images.
Can I create an ISBN barcode for a book?
Yes, technically: an ISBN barcode is an EAN-13 encoding of the ISBN, so enter your 13-digit ISBN (which begins 978 or 979) into the EAN-13 format. The ISBN itself must come from your country’s ISBN agency (Bowker in the US, Nielsen in the UK) — generating the barcode image does not issue or register an ISBN, exactly as with UPC numbers.
Can I customize barcode colors and size?
Yes, within the limits barcodes tolerate. You can set the bar color and the background color, adjust bar width, height and margins, and control the printed text (show or hide the value, font size and position). Keep bars much darker than the background: retail laser scanners are stricter about contrast than phone cameras, and red bars in particular can be invisible to them. Black on white remains the safest choice for anything scanned at checkout.
Why won’t my barcode scan?
Check four things. First, contrast: bars must be dark on a light background, so avoid red bars and gray backgrounds. Second, size and quiet zone: bars that print too thin, or margins that were cropped, defeat scanners. Third, the data: each format has strict rules (digit counts, allowed characters, check digits) — the generator validates these, but re-check you entered the right value. Fourth, print quality: ink spread and low resolution blur the narrow bars first. When in doubt, print larger with generous margins.
Can I create Data Matrix, PDF417 or Aztec codes?
Not on the website. The web generator focuses on QR codes and the twenty 1D barcode formats. The ScanMe Android app generates additional 2D industrial formats, including Data Matrix, from its template gallery. If you need a 2D code for a link or text on the web, a QR code covers almost every use case.