GS1 DataBar
Formerly RSS - Reduced Space Symbology
What is GS1 DataBar?
GS1 DataBar is a family of compact linear (1D) barcode symbologies designed by GS1 for items that are too small to carry a traditional EAN/UPC barcode, or that need to encode supplementary data - such as weight, price, batch number, or expiration date - at the point of sale.
Originally published under the name Reduced Space Symbology (RSS), the family was rebranded to GS1 DataBar in 2007 to align with the GS1 naming convention. All DataBar variants encode a GTIN , and the Expanded variants can additionally carry GS1 Application Identifiers (AIs) for variable-measure data.
Used for: Fresh produce with variable weight or price, coupons and loyalty offers, very small health and beauty items, loose produce, and any retail item requiring supplementary AI data at checkout.
DataBar variants
GS1 defines five DataBar symbologies. The first three encode only a GTIN; the Expanded variants can carry a GTIN plus additional Application Identifiers.
| Variant | Data encoded | Key characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| DataBar Omnidirectional | GTIN-14 | Full GTIN in a compact symbol scannable in any orientation by omnidirectional POS scanners |
| DataBar Stacked | GTIN-14 | Same data as Omnidirectional but arranged in a two-row format for narrow items where width is constrained |
| DataBar Limited | GTIN with indicator 0 or 1 only | The most compact variant; restricted to indicator digits 0 and 1, making it ideal for very small items |
| DataBar Expanded | GTIN + supplementary AIs (weight, price, date, batch, coupon) | The most data-rich 1D barcode accepted at retail checkout; encodes variable-measure and coupon data alongside the GTIN |
| DataBar Expanded Stacked | GTIN + supplementary AIs | Multi-row version of Expanded for labels where width is limited but height is available |
DataBar Expanded is particularly important because it is the only 1D barcode symbology accepted at retail point of sale that can encode Application Identifiers beyond the GTIN - for example, AI (3103) for net weight in grams or AI (17) for expiration date.
How GS1 DataBar relates to EPC/RFID
Because every DataBar symbol encodes a GTIN (and optionally a serial number via AI 21), the data it carries maps directly to the same EPC schemes used on RFID tags. In supply chains that use both barcodes and RFID, a DataBar label and an EPC tag on the same item encode the same underlying identifier.
A DataBar Omnidirectional or Limited symbol encodes the GTIN alone - this corresponds to the GTIN component within an SGTIN EPC. A DataBar Expanded symbol can additionally carry a serial number (AI 21), a coupon code, or other AIs. When a serial number is present, the full GTIN + serial maps to an SGTIN Pure Identity URI such as urn:epc:id:sgtin:0614141.012345.6789.
For coupon applications, the GS1 DataBar Expanded encodes data that corresponds to the SGCN (Serialised Global Coupon Number) EPC scheme, linking physical coupon barcodes to their RFID equivalents.
Where GS1 DataBar is used
- Fresh produce (variable weight/price): Supermarket items like meat, cheese, and deli products use DataBar Expanded to encode the GTIN alongside the exact weight and price, replacing legacy in-store barcodes.
- Loose produce: Small stickers on individual fruits and vegetables use DataBar Omnidirectional or Stacked due to limited label space.
- Coupons: GS1 DataBar Expanded is the standard symbology for GS1 coupon barcodes in North America, encoding the offer code, value, and qualifying purchase requirements in a single scan.
- Small items: Healthcare products, cosmetics, and other small consumer goods where a full EAN-13 barcode would not fit.
Related EPC schemes
Source
GS1 DataBar Standards and the GS1 General Specifications. The mapping between DataBar-encoded GTINs and SGTIN EPCs is defined in the GS1 EPC Tag Data Standard, Release 2.3.