Documentation – Developer Guide

Java: Quick Start

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Java: Barcode Recognition

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Java: Barcode Generation

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Barcode Generation

Aspose.BarCode for Java provides a unified generation API for linear, postal, and two-dimensional barcode symbologies. A typical workflow consists of selecting an encode type, supplying the code text, configuring generation parameters, and saving the result.

BarcodeGenerator generator = new BarcodeGenerator(
        EncodeTypes.CODE_128,
        "BARCODE-GENERATION"
);

generator.save("barcode.png", BarCodeImageFormat.PNG);

The generation API is organized around BarcodeGenerator and its parameter tree. Common parameters control image size, resolution, colors, borders, captions, human-readable text, padding, and rotation. Symbology-specific parameter objects expose options such as QR error correction, Data Matrix versions, ITF-14 bearer bars, or Australian Post short-bar height.

This section contains the following topics:

Set Barcode Symbology and Text
Visual Parameters & Layout
Save Generated Barcodes
Set Barcode Checksum
Printing

Complete example

set

Java: Linear Barcodes Overview

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Overview

Linear barcodes (1D barcodes) encode data into a sequence of vertical bars and spaces of varying width. A scanner reads these bars horizontally, interpreting the reflected light pattern as encoded characters. This makes linear symbologies the most common and recognizable barcode type, widely used across retail, logistics, and product labeling.

How They Work

Data Encoding: The varying widths of bars and spaces represent different symbols. Standardized encoding schemes (such as Code 128, EAN-13, or UPC-A) define how each character is represented.
Reading Mechanism: A laser or CCD scanner shines light onto the barcode and converts the reflected pattern into the encoded data.
Limited Capacity: Linear barcodes store data only in one direction (horizontally). As more characters are added, the symbol grows in length. They hold significantly less data than 2D barcodes.

Supported Standards

Aspose.BarCode for Java supports both generation and recognition of all major 1D symbologies, including:

EAN/UPC family: EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A, UPC-E, ISBN, ISSN
Code family: Code 39 (standard & extended), Code 93, Code 128 (A/B/C), GS1-128
Interleaved formats: Interleaved 2 of 5, ITF-14, Matrix 2 of 5
Postal 1D: Postnet, Planet, Intelligent Mail (IMb), Pharmacode, MSI, Standard2of5

Common Applications

Retail: Product identification and price lookup at checkout (UPC, EAN).
Shipping & Logistics: Package tracking and warehouse inventory (Code 128, ITF-14).
Product Identification: Encoding GTINs and similar identifiers.
Limitations: Linear barcodes are constrained by their one-dimensional nature, which limits their data capacity compared to 2D codes.

Key Characteristics

One-dimensional: data is arranged in a single row.
Vertical bars and spaces are the core visual element.
Encodes alphanumeric data, typically short identifiers.
Easy to scan and recognize even if partially damaged (scratches, dirt), which makes them highly reliable.

Examples

UPC (Universal Product Code) – ubiquitous in retail.
EAN (European Article Number) – global standard for products.
Code 128 – versatile, full ASCII support, common in logistics.
ITF-14 – used for packaging and shipping containers.

Java: Complex Barcode

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Complex Barcode

Complex barcodes encode structured business data defined by payment, postal, healthcare, shipping, and identification standards.

Aspose.BarCode for Java provides typed complex codetext classes for creating standard-compliant payloads, generating their carrier barcodes, recognizing barcode images, and decoding recognized text back into structured Java objects.

This section contains the following articles: