Barcodes are ubiquitous, whether it’s on product packaging or shipping labels. The old linear barcode has been a familiar everyday sight for decades, but as technology and data requirements have evolved, demand has grown for codes that can store more information, take up less space and be read reliably in challenging environments.

Hence the rise of the 2D barcode, the most recognisable form of which is the QR code. It too has become part of everyday life, used for everything from restaurant menus to product authentication. But the QR code is just one of several powerful options depending on your industry and the application concerned, as we’ll come to later.

Understanding the difference between the various kinds of 2D barcode, and what each one does best, goes a long way to helping you choose the one that’s best for a particular purpose. In this post, we’ll look at the main 2D barcode types, their strengths and limitations, and help you identify which one suits your requirements.



What is a QR code and what does it do?

QR (Quick Response) codes were developed in the 1990s by Denso Wave, a Japanese company, to track parts in automotive manufacturing. Designed to hold more data than traditional barcodes, QR codes can store hundreds of times more information, including alphanumeric tests, URLs and binary data. They can also be easily scanned from any direction, even when distorted or partially damaged.

Accessibility is one of the QR code’s main advantages. They can be read easily by smartphone cameras and standard imaging scanners, making them a popular choice for a wide range of consumer-facing purposes. As well as being highly versatile, they’re cost-effective.

However, other 2D barcode formats may be better suited for uses in controlled or industrial environments, where space is limited, surfaces may be curved and traceability demands are often strict.

Other types of 2D barcodes

While QR codes are best known to the general public, there are several other types of 2D barcodes that have a wide variety of uses in a number of areas, including manufacturing and logistics. These include the following:

Data Matrix

Particularly common in industrial and medical settings, Data Matrix codes are compact and very data-dense; they can store large amounts of information in a very small area, making them ideal for direct part marking on components or packaging with limited space. They’re also highly reliable and feature strong error correction to ensure readability even when codes are scratched or partly obscured.

PDF417

Another format designed for high data capacity, PDF417 can encode large blocks of text, making it useful for transport, identification and compliance documentation. As a result, it’s often used on shipping labels, drivers’ licences and airline boarding passes.

Aztec

A more recent innovation, Aztec codes are most commonly used in ticketing and transport systems. They don’t require a quiet zone (the blank area surrounding a barcode, so they can store information efficiently in compact spaces, such as on mobile tickets and small labels.

Each of these codes is a variation on the same theme: compact, high-density data storage that can quickly be read by imaging scanners, though their structural differences make them more or less suited for specific uses.

How 2D barcodes measure up against each other

When deciding which 2D barcode format to use, it’s important to consider their key characteristics in order to distinguish them. Here’s how the major 2D barcodes stack up across a range of different areas.

  • Data capacity: PDF417 codes can store the most data, while Data Matrix and QR codes hold slightly less but are more physically compact. Aztec codes fall somewhere in between.
  • Size efficiency: When label space is at a premium, Data Matrix codes typically come out on top, offering excellent readability even at very small sizes.
  • Readability and error correction: QR and Data Matrix codes both include strong error correction algorithms, so they can be scanned even if as much as 30% of the code is damaged.
  • Printing and marking: Data Matrix codes are particularly suited to direct part marking where the code is etched, engraved or laser-marked on to a component. QR codes, on the other hand, are more commonly printed on packaging or labels.
  • Compatibility: Because QR codes are so widely used in consumer applications, they offer the broadest compatibility with mobile apps and general purpose scanners. Industrial scanners can easily read any of the major 2D formats, however.
  • Security and traceability: In highly regulated sectors such as pharmaceuticals and food manufacturing, traceability is crucial. Data Matrix codes are often preferred for this due to their compact size, reliability and ability to encode serialised data for tracking individual items.

In summary, then, here’s how the main types of 2D barcode tend to be used in practice:

  • QR codes: Best for consumer-facing applications, marketing and product packaging where easy smartphone scanning is a priority.
  • Data Matrix: Ideal for manufacturing, healthcare and aerospace, where space is limited and traceability is essential.
  • PDF417: Suitable for logistics, documentation and compliance processes that require large data capacity.
  • Aztec: Practical for mobile ticketing, transport and other small-space uses.

Two factors are especially important when choosing a 2D barcoding format: the type of information you need to encode and the physical environment within which the code will be situated. A code used on an automotive component, for instance, will have very different requirements compared to one that appears on a product label in a shop.

Finding the right barcode for the job

2D barcodes have transformed how businesses manage information, track assets and communicate with customers. The original linear barcode’s days appear to be numbered, as GS1’s Sunrise 2027 initiative is encouraging businesses to move towards 2D barcodes at the point of sale by the end of 2027.

Cobalt helps businesses find the right code, using the right printing technology, with software behind it and the right verification. If you want to know more about 2D barcodes and which one might be best for your business, get in touch with our team and let’s explore your options.