GS1 Data Matrix Barcode FAQ

What is GS1 Data Matrix barcode, encode character set, symbol size, & reading Data Matrix barcodes

Data Matrix, also known as Data Matrix ECC200, is a two-dimensional (2D) matrix symbology, which is defined in "INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 16022:2006".

Data Matrix ISO version ECC 200 is the only version that supports GS1 system data structures, including Function 1 Symbol Character (FNC1). The ECC 200 version of Data Matrix uses Reed-Solomon error correction and this feature helps correct for partially damaged symbols.

GS1 Data Matrix barcode supports the subset of ISO/IEC 646 defined in the GS1 General Specifications be used for GS1 Application Identifier (AI) element strings

Depends on your encoding data type, GS1 Data Matrix supports maximum length from 1,555 to 3,116 characters.

• Alphanumeric data: up to 2,335 characters
• Eight-bit byte data: 1,556 characters
• Numeric data: 3,116 digits

The GS1 system requires the use of symbology identifiers. GS1 DataMatrix uses the symbology identifier of ]d2 for GS1 system compliant symbols that have a leading FNC1 character.

For example, a GS1 DataMatrix symbol encoding AI (01) element string 10012345678999 produces the transmitted data string "]d20110012345678999".

Symbology identifier for Data Matrix ECC 200

	Message content	Separator
]d2	Standard AI element strings	None

GS1 Application Identifiers (AIs) are numeric prefixes used in barcodes and EPC/RFID-tags to define the meaning and format of encoded data elements.

A data element string is the combination of a GS1 Application Identifier and a GS1 Application Identifier data field.

Tabel: list of sample AIs

AI	Data Content	Data title
00	Identification of a logistic unit (SSCC)	SSCC
01	Identification of a trade item (GTIN)	GTIN
10	Batch or lot number	BATCH/LOT
11	Production date	PROD DATE
12	Due date for amount on payment slip	DUE DATE

GS1 DataMatrix symbology has multiple sizes to match various data content.

• GS1 DataMatrix symbols have 24 sizes of the square format ranging from 10 by 10 modules up to 144 by 144 modules.
• The rectangular format has 6 sizes from 8 by 18 modules up to 16 by 48 modules.
• GS1 DataMatrix sizes of 52 by 52 or larger have 2 to 10 interleaved blocks of Reed-Solomon error correction codewords.

A GS1 Data Matrix example with square format


A GS1 Data Matrix example with rectangular format

What is GS1 Data Matrix quiet zone border?

GS1 Data Matrix barcode all four sides are surrounded by a quiet zone border.

The minimum quiet zone is equal to X (bar module) on all four sides. For applications with moderate to excessive reflected noise in close proximity to the symbol, a Quiet Zone of 2X to 4X is recommended.

What is the minimum size for GS1 Data Matrix?

The smallest size of GS1 DataMatrix is 10 x 10 modules, which does not include Quiet Zones.

Table-1: GS1 Data Matrix symbol attributes

Symbol size		Data region		Maximum data capacity
Row	Column	Size	No.	Num.	Alphanum.	Byte
10	10	8 x 8	1	6	3	1
12	12	10 x 10	1	10	6	3
14	14	12 x 12	1	16	10	6
16	16	14 x 14	1	24	16	10
18	18	16 x 16	1	36	25	16
20	20	18 x 18	1	44	31	20
22	22	20 x 20	1	60	43	28
24	24	22 x 22	1	72	52	34
26	26	24 x 24	1	88	64	42
32	32	14 x 14	4	124	91	60
36	36	16 x 16	4	172	127	84
40	40	18 x 18	4	228	169	112
44	44	20 x 20	4	288	214	142
48	48	22 x 22	4	348	259	172
52	52	24 x 24	4	408	304	202
64	64	14 x 14	16	560	418	277
72	72	16 x 16	16	736	550	365
80	80	18 x 18	16	912	682	453
88	88	20 x 20	16	1,152	862	573
96	96	22 x 22	16	1,392	1,042	693
104	104	24 x 24	16	1,632	1,222	813
120	120	18 x 18	36	2,100	1,573	1,047
132	132	20 x 20	36	2,608	1,954	1,301
144	144	22 x 22	36	3,116	2,335	1,555
Rectangular Symbols
8	18	6 x 16	1	10	6	3
8	32	6 x 14	2	20	13	8
12	26	10 x 24	1	32	22	14
12	36	10 x 16	2	44	31	20
16	36	14 x 16	2	64	46	30
16	48	14 x 22	2	98	72	47

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