GS1 DataMatrix
2D Matrix Barcode with GS1 Application Identifiers
What is GS1 DataMatrix?
GS1 DataMatrix is a 2D matrix barcode that uses the same Application Identifier (AI) structure as GS1-128 , but encodes the data in a compact square or rectangular grid of black and white cells instead of a linear series of bars. A FNC1 character in the first position signals that the contents follow GS1 standards.
Because it is a 2D symbol, GS1 DataMatrix can encode far more data in a much smaller space than GS1-128. This makes it the barcode of choice wherever space is limited, printing resolution is constrained, or the item itself must be directly marked - such as surgical instruments, electronic components, and pharmaceutical vials.
Used for: Pharmaceutical serialisation (EU FMD, US DSCSA), medical device UDI, fresh food traceability, direct part marking (DPM) on metal and plastic, and any application where a compact, high-density barcode is required.
Application Identifiers
GS1 DataMatrix uses the same Application Identifier system as GS1-128. A typical pharmaceutical DataMatrix encodes AI (01) GTIN + AI (21) serial number + AI (17) expiry date + AI (10) batch/lot - the four fields required by most serialisation regulations. The table below lists key AIs and their EPC equivalents – see the full AI reference for the complete list.
| AI | Name | Data | EPC equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
(00) | SSCC | 18-digit Serial Shipping Container Code | SSCC-96 |
(01) | GTIN | 14-digit Global Trade Item Number | SGTIN-96 / SGTIN-198 |
(10) | Batch/Lot | Alphanumeric, up to 20 characters | No direct EPC field |
(17) | Expiry date | 6 digits (YYMMDD) | No direct EPC field |
(21) | Serial number | Alphanumeric, up to 20 characters | Combined with (01), maps to the SGTIN serial field |
(253) | GDTI | Global Document Type Identifier | GDTI-96 / GDTI-174 |
(414) | GLN | 13-digit Global Location Number | SGLN-96 / SGLN-195 |
(8003) | GRAI | Global Returnable Asset Identifier | GRAI-96 / GRAI-170 |
(8004) | GIAI | Global Individual Asset Identifier | GIAI-96 / GIAI-202 |
(8017) | GSRNP | Global Service Relation Number - Provider | GSRNP-96 |
(8018) | GSRN | Global Service Relation Number - Recipient | GSRN-96 |
How GS1 DataMatrix relates to EPC/RFID
GS1 DataMatrix and EPC/RFID tags carry the same logical data - they differ only in the physical carrier. A DataMatrix encoding AI (01) GTIN + AI (21) serial number contains exactly the same identification as an SGTIN EPC tag. In pharmaceutical supply chains, both technologies may coexist on the same package: the DataMatrix for visual verification and the RFID tag for automated, line-of-sight-free reading.
As with GS1-128 , some AIs such as (10) Batch/Lot and (17) Expiry date have no dedicated EPC field. When these values must travel with the RFID tag, they are typically written to the tag's user memory bank or linked through a backend database keyed by the EPC.
The compact size of GS1 DataMatrix makes it especially relevant for item-level serialisation - the same granularity at which RFID operates. Both technologies answer the question "which specific unit is this?" rather than merely "what product type is this?"
Where GS1 DataMatrix is used
- Pharmaceuticals - mandatory under the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) and the US Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). Each saleable unit carries a DataMatrix encoding GTIN + serial + expiry + batch.
- Medical devices (UDI) - the US FDA and EU MDR require a Unique Device Identifier on device labels, frequently encoded as a GS1 DataMatrix.
- Fresh food - variable-weight items with GTIN, batch, and use-by date encoded in a small 2D symbol on the label.
- Direct part marking (DPM) - laser-etched or dot-peened DataMatrix codes on metal parts, surgical instruments, and electronic components for lifetime traceability.
- Retail and e-commerce - increasingly used on small consumer goods where a traditional barcode would be too large.