GS1 Composite Symbology FAQ and Tutorial

The GS1 Composite Symbology is the specification for a 2D barcode symbol that is included above a DataBar, UPC, EAN or Code-128 symbol to encode additional data. Composite symbols are not supported by all barcode scanners, and implementation is usually more difficult than other options. IDAutomation recommends using DataBar Expanded to encode Application Identifiers (IAs) with additional data when possible, because DataBar is approved for use in all POS systems after January 1, 2010, all data is encoded in a single symbol, and implementation is much easier.

The GS1 (EAN.UCC) Composite Symbology consists on a linear component, which encodes the item's primary data, and an adjacent 2D composite component, which encodes supplementary data to the linear component.

The linear component will be a symbology of types: GS1-128, EAN8, EAN13, UPCA, UPCE, or any of the GS1 DataBar family of components. The composite component will be either:

• Composite Code A barcode, which is derived from the MicroPDF417 specification, for EAN8, EAN13, UPCA, UPCE, or GS1 DataBar barcodes, or
• Composite Code C barcode, which is derived from the PDF417 specification, for GS1-128 (UCC/EAN-128) barcodes.

MicroPDF417 barcodes are assigned a specific matrix of row/column combinations. This matrix limits the amount of data that may be encoded in 2D composites. The 2D composites can encode up to 56 numeric characters. Alpha characters and certain punctuation characters may be encoded in the composite, but will significantly reduce the maximum number of characters that can be encoded.

The Composite Code C barcodes, used as composites for GS1-128 and based on the PDF417 standards, can realistically encode approximately 800 characters.

The following are examples of the various types of composite components used in GS1 symbols:

EAN-13 Composite encoding 0100641414997 in the linear portion and 21012345678914 in the composite portion:



EAN-8 Composite encoding 01006414 in the linear portion and 12ABC883788398 in the composite portion:



UPC-A Composite encoding 010064149096 in the linear portion and 727728928871662663774889039938484754757758 in the composite portion:



UPC-E Composite encoding 063000008261 in the linear portion and 727728928871662663774889039938484754757758 in the composite portion:



GS1 DataBar Expanded Composite encoding 010064149094388 in the linear portion and CB938872772892887166266377488 in the composite portion:


IDAutomation recommends using a single DataBar Expanded barcode to include Application Identifiers (IAs) with additional data when possible, because implementation is much easier.

GS1 DataBar Limited Composite encoding 2015064149094 in the linear portion and CB9383872772892887166266377488 in the composite portion (The maximum value of the linear portion for both stand-alone GS1 DataBarLimited barcodes and GS1 DataBar Limited barcodes w/ composites is two trillion, fifteen billion, one hundred thirty-three million, five hundred thirty-one thousand, ninety-six (2,015,133,531,096).):


Note: the text interpretation of this symbol is showing the linkage flag of one (1) and not showing the last digit, which is a MOD 10 of the GTIN.

GS1 DataBar Composite encoding 1010064149094 in the linear portion and CB9383872772892887166266377488 in the composite portion:


Note: the text interpretation of this symbol is showing the linkage flag of one (1) and not showing the last digit, which is a MOD 10 of the GTIN.

GS1 DataBar Stacked Composite encoding 1010064149094 in the linear portion and 72772892887166266377488 in the composite portion:



GS1 DataBar Stacked Omni-Directional encoding 1010064149094 in the linear portion and 72772892887166266377488 in the composite portion:



GS1 DataBar Truncated encoding encoding 1010064149094 in the linear portion and 72772892887166266377488 in the composite portion:


Note: the text interpretation of this symbol is showing the linkage flag of one (1) and not showing the last digit, which is a MOD 10 of the GTIN.

GS1-128 (Code 128) Composite encoding Ê00030123456789012340 in the linear portion and 02130123456789093724Ê101234567ABCDEFG in the composite portion (Code 128 values containing composite data must start with the FNC1 character.):

IDAutomation recommends using a single Code-128 barcode to include Application Identifiers (IAs) with additional data when possible, because implementation is much easier.

• GS1 DataBar Barcode FAQ

• Code-128 Barcode FAQ

• GS1 Application Identifiers

• Encoding UPC and EAN data in DataBar with the GTIN

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