The standard printed barcodes we all see at supermarkets or local stores are no longer the latest trend. Today, 2D barcodes, which have recently erupted in terms of popularity, are a different form of barcodes that are more updated compared to standard 1D ones. The most common examples of 2D barcodes are QR codes and PDF417 codes.
Quick Response (QR codes) are most commonly seen today and consist of square arrays that look like large pixels in one large square. It's a matrix type of barcode and can store anything from text, numbers, URLs, and even enable devices to execute certain commands.
Portable data file (PDF417 codes) are long and rectangular in shape, with rows of linear stacked codewords that make up the rectangular shape. Probably the most notable feature for these barcodes is its error correction ability within its high resolution linear rows. Because of this, if the barcode is defaced, it's not so much a problem.
Since PDF417 barcodes used linear stacked barcode symbols, displaying or printing these barcodes require high resolution. This can pose as a challenge, because it would also require expensive, sophisticated equipment to scan these codes properly. On the other hand, scanning QR codes is easier as resolution is not so important. It uses image sensors and not linear scans, so simple smartphone applications or 2D point-of-sale scanners will suffice.
In terms of generating barcodes, it's easier creating QR codes than PDF417 barcodes. There are a number of websites and resources that allow users to freely create QR codes. A lot of the PDF417 scanners are private and require heavy investment or equipment, especially because these barcode types demand high resolution. The popularity of QR codes is greater than PDF417 in this sense.
Another feature of QR codes is its reliability in storing a large volume of data. If you look at the table below, you'll notice the differences in capacity for QR codes and PDF417 codes.
| QR Codes | PDF417 | |
| Numeric | 7098 | 2710 |
| Alphanumeric | 4296 | 1850 |
| Binary | 2953 | 1018 |
| Kanji | 1817 | 554 |
Source: Digital Lab, QR Codes: a Point of View
Because of QR codes' large capacity, the one drawback is that the size of the barcode will be larger to store more information. It will take up more room than the slender PDF417, and this is something that businesses may need to consider when printing or choosing it display it at various locations. More space for the barcode means less space for other things.
Nowadays, QR codes are mostly used in mobile marketing and business and PDF417 codes are more used in ID cards and transport applications. Both types of 2D barcodes are unique and host features that make it stand apart from other ones. If you're business, it's up to you to decide the information you want encoded, how it will be displayed, and what type of barcode would be best suitable for your business goals.
No comments:
Post a Comment