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Codabar Barcode

The camera app can scan this. The Zebra app does not scan this.

Codabar is an older, very forgiving barcode that can be printed even by dot-matrix printers. It encodes digits and a few symbols between start and stop letters A to D, which is why library cards often show numbers framed by letters.

Also called NW-7, Code 2 of 7, USD-4, Rationalized Codabar, Ames Code, ABC Codabar.

Specifications

Standard	EN 798; ANSI/AIM BC3 (USS-Codabar); JIS X 0503 (NW-7)
Character set	Digits 0-9 and - $ : / . + ; start/stop A, B, C, D
Capacity	Variable
Check digit	None mandatory; optional modulo 16 (+MOD16)
Dimension	1D linear

Where it is used

Libraries, blood banks (legacy), photo labs, courier airbills (legacy)

People use it for libraries, blood banks (legacy), photo labs, courier airbills (legacy).

The camera app can scan this and returns the raw text. The Zebra app does not scan this.

Example

A12345678A

Scan and create

Create this code Camera app

Create this code opens the barcode generator with this symbology and the sample text filled in.

The camera app can scan this. It returns the raw text. It does not open links, look up products, or start a payment. The desktop companion types that text into the focused field.

The Zebra app does not scan this.

Related codes

Questions

What do the letters A, B, C and D in Codabar mean?

Codabar is an older, very forgiving barcode that can be printed even by dot-matrix printers. The cited standard is EN 798; ANSI/AIM BC3 (USS-Codabar); JIS X 0503 (NW-7). The camera app can scan this. It returns the raw text. The Zebra app does not scan this.

Is Codabar still used today?

Libraries, blood banks (legacy), photo labs, courier airbills (legacy). Codabar is an older, very forgiving barcode that can be printed even by dot-matrix printers. The camera app can scan this. It returns the raw text. The Zebra app does not scan this.

Can I scan a library card barcode with my phone?

The camera app can scan this. It returns the raw text. The Zebra app does not scan this.