**Quick guide** by use case: - **European retail** - **EAN-13** (13 digits) - **US / Canada** - **UPC-A** (12 digits) - **Books** - **ISBN** - **Warehouse / internal labels** - **Code 128** (any text, compact) - **Logistics / cartons** - **ITF** (even-length digits) - **Small labels with lots of data** - **Data Matrix** or **PDF417** - **Transit tickets** - **Aztec** - **GS1 tracking** (fresh food, coupons) - **GS1-128** or **GS1 DataBar**

Is data sent to a server?

**No**. Rendering happens **locally** using the **bwip-js** library (open source). **DevTools → Network** = no requests. **Your input** (serial numbers, product codes) **never leaves the device**.

**PNG** = raster. **Good for printing** at a specific size (50×30 mm thermal labels). **Small files** (5-50 KB). **SVG** = vector. **Scales lossless** to any size. **Ideal for** projects in Illustrator, large-format print, embedding on a website. **For mass label production** = PNG, **for design work** = SVG.

Caption above and below?

**Yes**. In the **"Caption"** panel type your own text and pick **"Above"** or **"Below"**. By default the barcode shows the **encoded value under the bars** (EAN-13 digits). You can **replace** it with your own or **keep both**.

Why is the field red?

Each type has **its own format rules**. **EAN-13** needs 12 or 13 digits (check digit appended automatically). **Code 39** = uppercase letters, digits, a few special chars. **ITF** requires an **EVEN number of digits**. **Validator shows a specific error** ("EAN-13 needs 12 or 13 digits - you have 11").

**A Code 128 variant with GS1 Application Identifiers** in parentheses - **(01)** = GTIN, **(17)** = expiry date, **(10)** = batch number. **Standard in logistics, fresh food, pharma** - the code **automatically gives meaning** to the encoded data. **Example**: `(01)09501101530003(17)260101(10)BATCH123`.

How much data fits in a 2D code?

**Capacity of the popular 2D codes**: - **Data Matrix**: up to 2,335 chars - **PDF417**: up to 1,100 bytes (~1,850 chars) - **Aztec**: up to 3,067 chars - **MaxiCode**: 93 ASCII chars **In practice**: short data (under 100 chars) = clean, easy-to-scan code. **Beyond 500 chars** code becomes **dense**.

Non-Latin / accented characters?

**Partially**. **Code 128, Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec** support **full ASCII + UTF-8**. **Code 39, EAN, UPC, ITF do NOT** - only digits and limited Latin set. **For non-ASCII text** use **Code 128 or Data Matrix**.

Which scanner to test?

**Smartphone**: iPhone Camera since iOS 11 and most Androids scan 1D and 2D **natively**. **Google Lens** scans everything. **Laser scanners** (warehouse) only read **1D**. **Imager scanners** (CCD, camera-based) also read 2D. **Fastest test** is your phone - or upload the image to our [barcode reader](/en/barcode-reader).

YourDevToolsPro

Barcode Generator

Create EAN-13, UPC, Code 128, ITF and more. No signup, print-ready output.

LiveRuns in your browser

1Barcode type· 14 types supported

Retail / EAN / UPC

Industrial / general

2D matrix codes

GS1 / DataBar

Postal

2Data

Any ASCII (letters, digits, symbols). Best for warehouse labels.

Show encoded value

Digit size

3Colors

Bars#000000Background#FFFFFF

PreviewCode 128

Print size50.0 × 50.0 mm

Width

Thermal printers (Zebra)

Sets the print width to a standard thermal label size.

Cut lineA thin border helps when cutting out labels.

Larger codes scan more reliably.

Download

The barcode is rendered in your browser, nothing leaves your machine.

How do I generate a barcode (EAN, UPC, Code 128)?

Barcode generator online - free, no signup. Create:

1D barcodes: EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, Codabar, ITF, MSI, ISBN, ISSN.

2D codes: Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec, MaxiCode, GS1 DataBar.

With a caption above or below, in any color and size. PNG (for print) and SVG (vector, scales lossless).

Everything runs locally - your input data never leaves the device. Perfect for warehouse labels, packaging, tickets, business cards, coupons, documentation.

How to use it

Pick the barcode type from the list grouped by use case: retail (EAN, UPC, ISBN), industrial (Code 128, Code 39, ITF), 2D matrix (Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec) or GS1 / postal.
Type the data to encode. Each type shows a format hint ("13 digits for EAN-13", "any ASCII for Code 128"). Validation is automatic.
Add a caption above or below (optional) - your own text ("2026 admission ticket", "Milk 1L") or let the code show its encoded data under the bars.
Tweak the look: bar and background colors, scale, bar height (1D), error correction level (2D), padding. Everything updates live.
Download as PNG (raster, for thermal printers, labels, posters) or SVG (vector, for design files - scales perfectly to any size).

When this is useful

Which barcode goes where - typical matches:

Warehouse labels - Code 128 (any ASCII, the most common in logistics).
Retail product packaging - EAN-13 for Europe, UPC-A for the US and Canada.
Books (ISBN), periodicals (ISSN).
Coupons and promo campaigns (Code 128 or GS1-128).
Employee badges (Code 128, Code 39).
Shipping labels with lots of data (PDF417, Data Matrix).
Transit tickets, boarding passes (Aztec).
Pharmaceutical labels, electronics, automotive parts (Data Matrix - compact 2D).
Fresh food with expiry tracking (GS1 DataBar).

To generate a QR code as a 2D alternative, use the QR generator.

Questions and answers

Pick a type, type the data, optionally add a caption and color, download PNG or SVG. 10-30 seconds, in your browser. No accounts, subscriptions, watermarks.

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