Posted on 15-12-2025 by Eddy Mares
This article provides a short overview of the characteristics of 1D and 2D barcodes, including the advantages and disadvantages of each. POSdata Nederland can assist you in determining which barcode best fits a specific application or project.
1D-barcodes
A one-dimensional barcode, or 1D barcode, consists of vertical lines of varying widths. These lines are scanned horizontally from left to right or from right to left4. In everyday use, this type is commonly referred to as the traditional barcode.
| Advantages: |
Simple and inexpensive to print
Widely supported by nearly all scanners
Fast linear scanning, ideal for retail environments
Suitable for basic identification such as EAN codes |
| Disadvantages: |
Limited data capacity (usually 8–20 characters)
Increases in length as more data is encoded
Direction-sensitive, must be correctly oriented for the scanner
Contains usually only an ID-number, additional information requires a database lookup |
2D-barcodes
A two-dimensional barcode, 2D barcode, uses both horizontal and vertical patterns to store data. Common examples include QR codes, DataMatrix, and PDF417.
| Advantages: |
Very high data capacity, hundreds to thousands of characters
Compact size with a large amount of information in a small code
Omnidirectional scanning, regardless of orientation
Includes error correction, remaining readable even when dirty, damaged, or poorly printed
Can contain standalone information without requiring a database |
| Disadvantages: |
Requires imager or camera-based scanners, which are more expensive than 1D scanners
Less suitable for extremely fast linear scanning, such as conveyor belts
Visually more complex |
| Conclusion: |
|
1D-barcode |
2D-barcode |
| Datacapacity |
Low |
Very high |
| Size |
Length increases with more data |
Stays compact |
| Scandirection |
Horizontal, orientation sensitive |
Omnidirectional |
| Error correction |
None |
Present |
| Scanner |
Laser/CDD (cheap) |
Imager-camera (expensive) |
| Usage |
Retail, POS, warehouse |
Logistics, healthcare, production, marketing |
| Information in code |
Usually ID-number |
Complete information or dataset |
1D barcodes are well suited for simple applications where limited information is sufficient and low cost is essential, such as retail and warehouse environments. In contrast, 2D barcodes offer significantly greater data capacity, error correction, and flexibility, making them better suited for more complex and information-intensive environments such as logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing.
ATTENTION: Most 1D barcode scanners are unable to read 2D barcodes. On the other hand, 2D barcode scanners commonly read 1D barcodes
