A barcode symbology is purely the language for encoding the barcode applications. It is the procedure used to change the characters of the information to be encoded into the black and white lines of the barcode. Just like a printer requires understanding the language or encoding specific pattern of barcode it is printing, the barcode scanner must also be able to understand or decode the language of the encoded label to convert it into characters, which can be typed on a keyboard.

There are two types of barcode symbologies namely 1-dimensional or linear barcode symbology and 2-dimensional barcode symbology.

  • 1-Dimensional or Linear Barcode Symbology: These are the barcodes with vertical bars, which represent the common impression, of what a barcode looks like. In a linear or 1-dimensional barcode symbology, data is encoded or encrypted in a horizontal line just like the word written on the paper.
  • 2-Dimensional Barcode symbology: A 2-Dimensional barcode symbology stores the data or encodes it in both the x and y coordinates of the barcode. This barcode symbology must be scanned completely from side to side and top to bottom in order to decode its text. It will appear like a square with tiny squares or hexagons printed inside it, or like a many little linear barcodes cut and accumulated on one another.


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