What Is Barcode Symbology? Size of Barcodes.
A barcode is an optical, machine-readable representation of data. Barcode symbology is the method of encoding data with dots, spaced lines, or squares.
Once those barcode symbols are scanned by a barcode scanner, they are decoded, recorded, and analyzed to extract data for various applications.
When inspecting a barcode, you may find that some appear different from others.
In fact, there are two types of bar code symbology: discrete and continuous.
Discrete barcode symbology
The discrete type of symbology merely means that each character on the barcode may be decoded independently without relying on the other characters on the same barcode.
In other words, the scanner or equivalent gadget decodes each individual character.
Continuous barcode symbology
On the other hand, continuous barcode symbology requires that every character on a single barcode be read together.
Size of Barcodes
The width and lengths of the many bars shown on the barcode are another feature of barcode symbology.
The phrase two-width symbology applies to barcodes with only two possible bar sizes, either narrow or wide.