Understanding Code 128 Barcodes

What is Code 128?

Code 128 is a high-density linear barcode symbology that can encode all 128 ASCII characters. It's widely used in logistics, packaging, and inventory management.

Structure and Encoding

Code 128 has three subsets (A, B, C) that optimize encoding for different character types. The barcode automatically switches between subsets for efficiency.

• Subset A: Standard ASCII, control characters
• Subset B: Standard ASCII, lowercase letters
• Subset C: Numeric pairs (00-99) - most compact

Advantages

Code 128 supports variable-length data, has built-in error checking, and achieves high data density. It's the best choice for alphanumeric data in limited space.