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Barcode Types Reference

List all supported barcode symbologies with metadata

GET 1 credit /v1/barcode/types

curl "https://barcode.toolkitapi.io/v1/barcode/types"

import httpx

resp = httpx.get(
    "https://barcode.toolkitapi.io/v1/barcode/types",
)
print(resp.json())

const resp = await fetch("https://barcode.toolkitapi.io/v1/barcode/types", {
});
const data = await resp.json();
console.log(data);

# See curl example

Response 200 OK

{
  "total": 11,
  "types": [
    {"name": "code128", "description": "Code 128 — high-density alphanumeric barcode", "data_format": "Any ASCII characters", "max_length": null},
    {"name": "ean13", "description": "EAN-13 — European Article Number (retail)", "data_format": "12 or 13 digits (checksum auto-calculated)", "max_length": 13},
    {"name": "upca", "description": "UPC-A — Universal Product Code (North America)", "data_format": "11 or 12 digits (checksum auto-calculated)", "max_length": 12},
    {"name": "code39", "description": "Code 39 — alphanumeric (A-Z, 0-9, and special chars)", "data_format": "A-Z, 0-9, space, -.$/+%", "max_length": null},
    {"name": "itf", "description": "Interleaved 2 of 5 — numeric-only, even-length data", "data_format": "Even number of digits", "max_length": null}
  ]
}

Description

List all supported barcode symbologies with metadata

How to Use

1

1. Send a GET request to `/v1/barcode/types` with no parameters.

2

2. The response contains a `total` count and a `types` array with detailed metadata for each symbology.

3

3. Use the `name` field values as valid inputs for the `barcode_type` parameter in the generate and bulk endpoints.

4

4. Check the `data_format` and `max_length` fields to validate data before submitting generation requests.

About This Tool

Use the Barcode Types Reference endpoint to retrieve metadata about every barcode symbology the API supports. The response lists each type's identifier, human-readable description, expected data format, and maximum data length.

This is a discovery endpoint — call it to programmatically populate dropdown menus, validate user input before generation, or display symbology information in your UI. It requires no parameters and returns the full list every time.

The API currently supports 11 symbologies spanning retail (EAN-13, UPC-A), logistics (ITF, EAN-14), publishing (ISBN-13, ISBN-10, ISSN), pharmaceutical (PZN), and general-purpose (Code 128, Code 39) use cases.

Why Use This Tool

Dynamic UI generation — Populate a barcode type selector in your application from the API response
Input validation — Check data format and length constraints before calling the generate endpoint
Documentation — Display supported symbologies and their descriptions to end users
Integration testing — Iterate through all types to verify your system handles each one correctly

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know which barcode type to use?

It depends on your use case. EAN-13 and UPC-A are standard for retail products. Code 128 is the most versatile for general-purpose labelling. ISBN-13 is for books. Check the `description` and `data_format` fields to find the right fit.

Will new barcode types be added?

The supported list may expand over time. Always call this endpoint to get the current list rather than hardcoding type names in your application.

What does max_length null mean?

A `null` max_length means the symbology accepts variable-length data. Code 128, for example, can encode any ASCII string up to the API's 256-character limit. Fixed-length types like EAN-13 require exactly the right number of digits.

Start using Barcode Types Reference now

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