2D Barcodes
High-density matrix barcodes beyond QR. Choose a format below to generate one for free — no sign-up required.
About 2d barcodes
Two-dimensional barcodes store data in both directions rather than in the width of bars alone, which is what lets a symbol the size of a fingernail hold what a linear barcode would need a whole label for. All of them include error correction, so a proportion of the symbol can be damaged, dirty or missing and still decode.
Data Matrix is the smallest of the family for a given amount of data and the one used for direct part marking — etched or dotted straight onto a component too small for a label. Aztec needs no quiet zone around it, which is why it fits on transport tickets and boarding passes where space runs to the edge. MaxiCode is the odd one out: a fixed-size symbol with a bullseye at its centre, designed to be read off parcels moving at speed on a conveyor.
Choosing between them is usually settled by whoever reads the symbol rather than by the data. A carrier, a regulator or a customer will specify the format; where nothing specifies it and a phone camera is the reader, a QR code is generally the better choice.
2D Barcodes — frequently asked questions
If a phone camera will read it, use a QR code: phone scanners are tuned for them and the public recognises the shape. If the symbol has to be tiny, marked directly onto a part, or is being specified by a supply-chain or regulatory requirement, Data Matrix is the one that will be asked for.