Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a QR code and a barcode?
A barcode (like Code 128, EAN-13, or UPC-A) is a 1D format — a line of bars encoding a relatively short string, typically a product or inventory number, and it's what retail scanners and point-of-sale systems are built around. A QR code is 2D and can hold far more data (a full URL, WiFi credentials, contact info), but retail and inventory systems still standardize on 1D barcodes specifically.
Which format should I use?
EAN-13 and UPC-A are the standard retail product-barcode formats (EAN-13 internationally, UPC-A in the US/Canada) — use one of these if the barcode needs to represent an actual registered product number for retail scanning. Code 128 is the flexible choice for anything else — inventory tracking, internal labels, shipping — since it can encode any text or numbers, not just a fixed-length product code.
What is the check digit, and do I need to calculate it myself?
EAN-13 and UPC-A both end with a check digit — a number calculated from the rest of the code that scanners use to catch misreads. You don't need to calculate it yourself: enter the code without it (12 digits for EAN-13, 11 for UPC-A) and it's added automatically.
Will this barcode actually scan correctly?
Yes — the encoding follows the same published standards real barcode scanners are built to read. For best results when printing, keep the barcode at a reasonable size and avoid compressing or blurring the downloaded image.