Codabar

Codabar (ISO/IEC 16388)

1D barcodeDigits and six symbols

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What is Codabar?

A self-checking linear barcode whose payload supports digits plus - $ : / . +. Each symbol is bracketed by one of the start/stop characters A, B, C, or D.

How it is structured

One start character (A–D), variable-length payload, and one stop character (A–D). Each character contains seven elements: four bars and three spaces, with two or three wide elements.

Where it is used

Libraries, blood banks, photo labs, legacy medical systems, and historical parcel workflows.

Primary specification

See ISO/IEC 16388 for the authoritative specification or publisher record.