A barcode is a machine-readable optical representation of data. It consists of parallel lines (bars) and spaces of varying widths, or a 2D pattern of squares. Barcodes are scanned by optical scanners or cameras to quickly identify products, track inventory, and automate data entry. The first barcode was scanned on June 26, 1974 on a pack of Wrigley's chewing gum at a supermarket in Ohio.

How does a barcode work?

A barcode scanner emits a beam of light (usually a laser or LED) that reflects off the barcode. The scanner detects the reflected light pattern and converts the varying widths of bars and spaces into binary data. The decoded data is then passed to a computer system that looks up the product or record associated with that code. 1D barcodes encode data horizontally, while 2D barcodes like QR codes and PDF417 encode data in both dimensions.

How do I create a barcode for free?

Using GeneratorBrain's free barcode generator: Step 1 — Select your barcode type (EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 128, etc.). Step 2 — Enter your data (product number, SKU, text, etc.). Step 3 — Download your barcode in PNG, SVG, JPG, or PDF format. All processing happens in your browser — no registration, no limits, no watermarks.

Can I generate barcodes for free?

Yes! GeneratorBrain's barcode generator is completely free. You can generate unlimited barcodes with no registration, no watermarks, and no daily limits. You can download barcodes in PNG, SVG, JPG, and PDF formats. The tool supports commercial use, making it perfect for businesses, retailers, publishers, and warehouses.

What barcode type should I use?

EAN-13 or UPC-A: For retail products sold in stores. Code 128: For shipping, logistics, and general tracking. Code 39: For inventory, automotive, and industrial use. ITF-14: For shipping cartons and outer packaging. ISBN-13: For books and publications. QR Code: For digital links and smart labels. PDF417: For documents, IDs, and large data payloads. Our tool includes a Smart Detect feature that automatically recommends the best barcode type for your data.

EAN-13 (European Article Number) is a 13-digit barcode standard used worldwide for retail products. It is the global standard managed by GS1. The first 2-3 digits indicate the country code, followed by company and product codes, ending with a check digit. Products sold in Europe, Asia, and most international markets use EAN-13. Products sold in North America typically use UPC-A, which is a subset of EAN-13.

UPC-A (Universal Product Code) is a 12-digit barcode standard primarily used for retail products in the United States and Canada. It was the first barcode system adopted by the retail industry in 1974. UPC-A can be considered a special case of EAN-13 (with a leading zero). The first 6 digits are the manufacturer code (assigned by GS1 US), digits 7-11 are the product code, and digit 12 is the check digit.

Code 128 is a high-density linear barcode that can encode all 128 ASCII characters. It is one of the most widely used barcode types in logistics, shipping, warehousing, and manufacturing. Code 128 is very compact and can encode mixed letters, numbers, and special characters. It is self-checking and supports variable-length data. GS1-128 is an application of Code 128 with GS1 application identifiers for supply chain use.

Code 39 (also known as Code 3 of 9) is an alphanumeric barcode that supports uppercase letters A-Z, digits 0-9, and special characters (-, ., $, /, +, %, and space). It is named because each character is encoded using 5 bars and 4 spaces, with 3 being wide. Code 39 is widely used in automotive, electronics, government, and healthcare industries. Unlike EAN or UPC, it does not require a check digit.

ITF-14 (Interleaved Two of Five, 14 digits) is a barcode standard used on the outer packaging (cartons, cases, pallets) of retail products. It is the GS1 standard for shipping cartons and typically encodes the GTIN-14 (Global Trade Item Number). ITF-14 uses bearer bars (thick lines on top and bottom) to protect against partial scans on corrugated surfaces.

Can I print generated barcodes?

Yes! You can download barcodes in multiple formats optimized for printing: PNG (standard and high-res up to 4K), SVG (infinitely scalable vector format — best for printing at any size), PDF (print-ready A4 document). For professional printing, we recommend SVG format for vector quality. For standard printing, PNG at 2K or 4K resolution is sufficient.

Can I use generated barcodes commercially?

Yes. You can use all barcodes generated by GeneratorBrain for commercial purposes without attribution. However, note that for official retail use (products sold in stores), you need to obtain a GS1 Company Prefix from your national GS1 organization to get legally registered EAN/UPC numbers. Our generator is ideal for internal tracking, inventory management, warehouse labels, and custom applications that do not require GS1 registration.

How do I validate a barcode?

Our tool validates barcodes in real-time as you type. For EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, and ITF-14, the check digit is automatically calculated and verified. Invalid check digits are detected and the correct value is suggested. The tool also validates character sets (e.g., Code 39 only allows uppercase letters) and length requirements. You will see a green checkmark when the barcode is valid and a warning with a clear explanation when there is an error.

What is the difference between EAN and UPC?

EAN (European Article Number) and UPC (Universal Product Code) are closely related. UPC-A is a 12-digit North American standard, while EAN-13 is a 13-digit international standard. EAN-13 is essentially an extension of UPC-A with an additional leading digit (the country code). Modern scanners can read both formats. EAN-13 is now the global standard, while UPC-A is still widely used in the US and Canada.

What is the difference between Code 39 and Code 128?

Code 128 is superior to Code 39 in most ways: it is more compact (about 30% smaller for the same data), supports all 128 ASCII characters (vs. 43 for Code 39), and is more widely supported in modern systems. Code 39 is simpler and does not require a check digit. Code 39 is still common in older systems, US military applications, and industries where simplicity is preferred. For new applications, Code 128 is almost always the better choice.

Free Barcode Generator

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Choose from 20+ barcode standards. Not sure? Use Smart Detect below.

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EAN-13: European Article Number — 13 digits. Standard for retail products sold worldwide.Allowed characters: 0-9

Barcode Format Comparison

Type	Digits/Chars	Best For	Data Type
EAN-13	13 digits	Global retail	Numeric
UPC-A	12 digits	US/CA retail	Numeric
EAN-8	8 digits	Small packages	Numeric
Code 128	Variable	Logistics	Full ASCII
Code 39	Variable	Industrial	Alphanumeric
ITF-14	14 digits	Cartons	Numeric
ISBN-13	13 digits	Books	Numeric
PDF417	Variable	Documents/IDs	Binary

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Enter data above to generate your barcode

EAN-13 — Use Cases

European Article Number — 13 digits. Standard for retail products sold worldwide.

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Retail products sold in stores worldwide

Example value:

5901234123457

What is a Barcode Generator?

A barcode generator is an online tool that creates machine-readable barcodes from text or numeric data. Using GeneratorBrain's free barcode generator, you can create EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 39, Code 128, ITF-14, ISBN, Codabar, PDF417, and many more barcode types in seconds — with no registration and no limits.

The generated barcodes can be downloaded as PNG, SVG, JPG, or PDF files and used for product labeling, inventory management, shipping labels, library books, pharmaceutical packaging, and any other commercial or personal application.

All barcode generation happens entirely in your browser. Your data is never sent to any server. The tool works offline once the page loads.

Supported Barcode Types

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EAN-13

Retail

European Article Number — 13 digits. Standard for retail products sold worldwide.

Retail products sold in stores worldwide

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EAN-8

Retail

Compact 8-digit EAN for small product packaging.

Small product packaging with limited space

🇺🇸

UPC-A

Retail

Universal Product Code — 12 digits. Standard for North American retail.

Products sold in United States and Canada

🗜️

UPC-E

Retail

Compressed 8-character UPC for small packages.

Small packages — compressed version of UPC-A

🏭

Code 39

General Business

Alphanumeric barcode supporting A-Z, 0-9, and special chars. Widely used in industry.

Inventory tracking, automotive, defense industries

📋

Code 93

General Business

Higher density alphanumeric barcode, successor to Code 39.

Canadian postal service, high-density inventory

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Code 128

Inventory & Shipping

High-density barcode supporting full ASCII. Most versatile linear barcode.

Logistics, shipping labels, warehouse management

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ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5)

Warehousing

Numeric-only, even number of digits. High-speed scanning on corrugated surfaces.

Warehouse storage, distribution, outer cartons

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ITF-14

Shipping

14-digit ITF barcode for shipping cartons and outer packaging.

Shipping cartons, pallet labels, GS1-128 alternative

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Codabar

General Business

Legacy alphanumeric barcode used in libraries, blood banks, and FedEx.

Libraries, blood banks, FedEx overnight labels

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ISBN-13

Publishing

International Standard Book Number. 13-digit EAN with 978/979 prefix.

Books, e-books, and printed publications

📰

ISSN

Publishing

International Standard Serial Number for periodicals.

Magazines, journals, newspapers, newsletters

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Pharmacode

Healthcare

Pharmaceutical barcode encoding numbers 3–131070 in compact form.

Pharmaceutical packaging, medical supplies

🔗

GS1-128

Shipping & Logistics

Code 128 with GS1 application identifiers for supply chain.

Supply chain, SSCC labels, GS1 compliance

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MSI / Plessey

Industrial

Modified Plessey barcode for supermarket shelving and warehouse racking.

Retail shelving systems, warehouse storage racks

✉️

PostNet

Postal

USPS postal barcode encoding ZIP codes (5, 9, or 11 digits).

USPS bulk mail, automated postal sorting

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PDF417

2D Codes

2D stacked barcode storing large amounts of data (up to 1800 chars).

IDs, boarding passes, driver licenses, documents

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Data Matrix

2D Codes

2D matrix barcode used in electronics and aerospace industry.

Electronics PCB marking, aerospace component tracking

🎫

Aztec Code

2D Codes

2D barcode used in transportation ticketing (airlines, Eurostar).

Airline boarding passes, train tickets, event tickets

How to Generate a Free Barcode Online

Step 01

Select Barcode Type

Choose from EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 128, Code 39, ITF-14, ISBN, and 15+ more standards. Use Smart Detect to auto-identify the best type.

Step 02

Enter Your Data

Type your product code, SKU, tracking number, or text. Real-time validation shows you if the data is correct as you type.

Step 03

Customize (Optional)

Adjust colors, size, text display, rotation, and export resolution. Preview updates instantly with every change.

Step 04

Download

Download as PNG (up to 4K), vector SVG, JPG, PDF, or WEBP. Bulk generate hundreds of barcodes with CSV upload.

Barcode Use Cases by Industry

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Retail & eCommerce

EAN-13, UPC-A, UPC-E

Product labels for items sold in stores worldwide. Required for GS1-compliant retail.

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Warehousing & Inventory

Code 128, Code 39, ITF

Asset tracking, stock management, bin location labels, and receiving barcodes.

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Shipping & Logistics

Code 128, ITF-14, GS1-128

Shipping labels, tracking codes, SSCC pallet labels, and carrier integration.

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Publishing

ISBN-13, ISSN

Book and magazine barcodes for bookstores, libraries, and distribution.

🏥

Healthcare

Pharmacode, Code 128, Data Matrix

Pharmaceutical packaging, medical supplies, blood bank labels.

⚙️

Manufacturing

Code 39, Data Matrix, PDF417

Work order tracking, component identification, quality control labels.

✉️

Postal & Government

PostNet, Code 128

Mail sorting, document tracking, government ID systems.

🎟️

Events & Ticketing

PDF417, Aztec, Code 128

Event tickets, boarding passes, access control systems.

📖

Libraries & Education

Codabar, ISBN, Code 39

Book circulation, patron IDs, equipment checkout systems.

Free Barcode Generator

Select Barcode Type

Barcode Format Comparison

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EAN-13 — Use Cases

What is a Barcode Generator?

Supported Barcode Types

How to Generate a Free Barcode Online

Barcode Use Cases by Industry

Frequently Asked Questions

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