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Matrix (2D) barcodes
 
Matrix (2D) barcodes

A matrix code, also known as a 2D barcode or simply a 2D code, is a two-dimensional way of representing information. It is similar to a linear (1-dimensional) barcode, but has more data representation capability.

Symbology     Notes
3-DI     Developed by Lynn Ltd.
ArrayTag     From ArrayTech Systems.
Aztec Code     Designed by Andrew Longacre at Welch Allyn (now Hand Held Products). Public domain.
Small Aztec Code     Space-saving version of Aztec code.
Chromatic Alphabet[9]     an artistic proposal by C. C. Elian; divides the visible spectrum into 26 different wavelengths - hues.
Chromocode     uses black, white, and 4 saturated colors.[10]
Codablock     Stacked 1D barcodes.
Code 1     Public domain.
Code 16K     Based on 1D Code 128.
Code 49     Stacked 1D barcodes from Intermec Corp.
ColorCode     ColorZip[1] developed colour barcodes that can be read by camera phones from TV screens; mainly used in Korea.[11]
CP Code     From CP Tron, Inc.
CyberCode     From Sony.
d-touch     readable when printed on deformable gloves and stretched and distorted[12]
DataGlyphs     From Palo Alto Research Center (also known as Xerox PARC).[13]
Datamatrix     From RVSI Acuity CiMatrix/Siemens. Public domain. Increasingly used throughout the United States.
Datastrip Code     From Datastrip, Inc.
Dot Code A     Designed for the unique identification of items.
EZcode     Designed for decoding by cameraphones.[14]
High Capacity Color Barcode     Developed by Microsoft; licensed by ISAN-IA.
HueCode     From Robot Design Associates. Uses greyscale or colour.[15]
INTACTA.CODE     From INTACTA Technologies, Inc.
InterCode     From Iconlab, Inc. The standard 2D barcode in South Korea. All 3 South Korean mobile carriers put the scanner program of this code into their handsets to access mobile internet, as a default embedded program.
MaxiCode     Used by United Parcel Service. Now Public Domain
mCode     Developed by Nextcode Corporation specifically for camera phone scanning applications. Designed to enable advanced cell mobile applications with standard camera phones.
MiniCode     From Omniplanar, Inc.
PDF417     Originated by Symbol Technologies. Public Domain.
Micro PDF417     Facilitates codes too small to be used in PDF417.
PDMark     Developer by Ardaco.
PaperDisk     High density code — used both for data heavy applications (10K-1 MB) and camera phones (50+ bits). Developed and patented by Cobblestone Software.[16]
Optar     Developed by Twibright Labs and published as free software. Aims at maximum data storage density, for storing data on paper. 200kB per A4 page with laser printer.
QR Code     Developed, patented and owned by TOYOTA subsidiary Denso Wave initially for car parts management. Now public domain. Can encode Japanese Kanji and Kana characters, music, images, URLs, emails. De-facto standard for Japanese cell phones.
QuickMark Code     From SimpleAct Inc..
Semacode     A Data Matrix code used to encode URLs for applications using cellular phones with cameras.
SmartCode     From InfoImaging Technologies.
Snowflake Code     From Marconi Data Systems, Inc.
ShotCode     Circular barcodes for camera phones by OP3. Originally from High Energy Magic Ltd in name Spotcode. Before that probably known as TRIPCode.
SuperCode     Public domain.
Trillcode     From Lark Computers. Designed to work with mobile devices camera or webcam PC. Can encode a variety of "actions".
UltraCode     Black-and-white & colour versions. Public domain. Invented by Jeffrey Kaufman and Clive Hohberger.
UnisCode     also called "Beijing U Code"; a colour 2D barcode developed by Chinese company UNIS
VeriCode, VSCode     From Veritec, Inc.
WaterCode     High-density 2D Barcode(440 Bytes/cm2) From MarkAny Inc.