Formats it reads
| Format | Where you see it |
|---|---|
| EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E | Products in shops and supermarkets |
| Code 128 | Shipping labels, parcel tracking, warehouse labels |
| Code 39, Codabar | Older industrial labels, library books, ID badges |
| ITF (including ITF-14) | Outer cartons and cases |
| PDF417 | Boarding passes, US and Canadian driving licences |
| Data Matrix, Aztec | Electronics parts, medicine packs, rail and airline tickets |
| QR code | Links, WiFi, contacts and more |
The detected format is shown above the result.
Getting a clean read
- Photograph barcodes head-on. A strong angle squashes the bars, and 1D barcodes are less forgiving than QR codes.
- Fill the frame: the bars should span most of the image width.
- Curved surfaces like bottles: turn the item so the bars run up and down, not around the curve.
- Shiny packaging: tilt slightly to move the reflection off the bars.
With the webcam, hold the item 10 to 20 cm away. Laptop webcams have fixed focus and can’t read barcodes held too close.
Questions
Does it look up the product name or price?
No. It reads the number only, and doesn’t send it to any product database. Searching the EAN or UPC in a search engine usually finds the product.
Can I make a barcode too?
Yes, with the barcode generator.