Barcode Generator & Reader

Related tools

A barcode is a compact, machine-readable way to represent a code — a product number, a shipment ID, a ticket reference — as a pattern a scanner can read in a fraction of a second. This tool builds the common retail and logistics formats, and reads them back from a photo or a live camera, all without sending anything to a server.

Which barcode format to use

Barcode "formats" aren't interchangeable — each one is a different way of encoding data, and most real-world uses expect a specific one:

• CODE128 — encodes any letters, numbers and most symbols. The default choice for shipping labels, internal inventory codes and anything that isn't a retail product.
• EAN-13 / EAN-8 — the standard on retail products outside North America. 12 or 7 digits plus an automatically-computed check digit.
• UPC-A / UPC-E — the North American retail equivalent of EAN. UPC-E is a compressed 6-digit form used on small packaging.
• CODE39 — an older format still common in badges, asset tags and some automotive/defense systems. Supports uppercase letters, digits and a handful of symbols.
• ITF-14 — used on shipping cartons and pallets, always 14 digits.
• MSI and Pharmacode — niche formats seen in inventory shelving and pharmaceutical packaging respectively.
• Codabar — still used on some library cards and blood bank labels.

If you're not encoding an existing product number for a specific system, CODE128 is almost always the right pick — it's the most flexible and the most widely supported by scanners.

Generating a scannable barcode

Type the value, pick the matching format, and the barcode renders instantly. EAN, UPC and ITF-14 expect an exact digit count and will show an error if the value doesn't fit that format — the tool checks the length and check digit before drawing anything, so it won't produce an invalid code. Keep the bars tall relative to their width and leave a plain quiet margin around the code; both colors need enough contrast for a scanner to lock onto the pattern.

How the scanner works

Switching to the Scan tab loads your image (or camera frame) onto an in-memory canvas and runs it through ZXing, an open-source multi-format decoder that recognizes both linear barcodes and QR codes. The camera option asks for permission the same way a video call would; the stream is decoded frame-by-frame locally and is never recorded or sent anywhere. Closing the tab or clicking "Stop camera" releases it immediately.

Getting a clean scan

• Fill as much of the frame as you can with the barcode — a tiny code in a large photo is harder to lock onto.
• Keep the barcode roughly level; a steep tilt can still work but a straight-on shot is far more reliable.
• Avoid glare on glossy labels — angle the camera slightly rather than shooting straight into a reflection.
• For a printed barcode, make sure it isn't smudged, creased across the bars, or printed at a very small size.

Frequently asked questions