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GS1 Barcode Syntax Resource

Overview

The GS1 Barcode Syntax Resource is a collection of assets that provides the tools required by solution providers and users to correctly implement, apply and stay aligned to GS1 standards in a simple and consistent manner.

By adopting the GS1 Barcode Syntax Resource, solutions can easily create and process conformant GS1 syntaxes encoded to linear or 2D barcodes used within the GS1 system. This enables industry and the broader GS1 user community to leverage the full benefits of using any barcode or syntax from the GS1 system, to experience a truly interoperable and standardised implementation of GS1 standards for all their operational data needs, while facilitating the global migration to 2D barcodes, no matter what their chosen solution may be and where they are on their 2D journey.

Provides foundational GS1 Application Identifiers (AI) validation rules and logic for the consistent implementation of GS1 standards, enabling the detection of common data errors before they are encoded into barcodes.

Facilitates the interpretation of GS1 Application Identifiers (AI) and conversion between the different GS1 syntaxes used with linear and 2D barcodes within the GS1 system.

Offers an easy way to keep up to date with GS1 standards, as new GS1 Application Identifiers (AI) and conformance rules are added to the system.

GS1 Barcode Syntax Resource Demo Tool

This tool showcases an example implementation of the GS1 Barcode Syntax Resource, enabling users to input data either through a keyboard or a barcode scanner. It allows users to test whether their data strings conform to GS1 standards and how the data may be translated into other GS1 syntaxes. The supported data syntaxes are displayed on the right-hand side of the tool, while tooltips offer further information about data input.

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Supported data syntaxes

Plain Syntax

9526064055028

GS1 element string syntax

(01)09526064055028(17)250521(10)ABC123(21)456DEF

Barcode message format

^01095260640550281725052110ABC123^21456DEF

Barcode message scan data

]d201095260640550281725052110ABC123{GS}21456DEF

GS1 Digital Link URI syntax

https://example.com/01/09526064055028/10/ABC123/21/456DEF?17=250521

How to use the GS1 Barcode Syntax Resource

The GS1 Barcode Syntax Resource is a versatile suite of tools that enables easy and consistent implementation of GS1 standards for both new and existing solutions. The assets can be fully or partially implemented based on the user's requirements, and serves as a foundation for building application or user-specific requirements.

Consisting of three components, the GS1 Barcode Syntax Resource can be integrated directly into an application’s code base or simply used as a reference for transliteration into third-party code as required by the solution’s build system.

Take a closer look at each component, by clicking the tiles below:

GS1 Barcode Syntax Dictionary
GS1 Barcode Syntax Dictionary

A simple, open-source text file that contains a list of all currently assigned GS1 Application Identifiers (AIs) and the necessary components for creating a valid GS1 data syntax.

GS1 Barcode Syntax Tests
GS1 Barcode Syntax Tests

A set of source code files that provides instructions to perform a series of analytical actions to check if data, whether input by a keyboard or barcode scanner, is valid against GS1 conformance specifications and rules for the GS1 data syntax.

GS1 Barcode Syntax Engine
GS1 Barcode Syntax Engine

An example of the harmonised framework required to implement the GS1 Barcode Syntax Dictionary and GS1 Barcode Syntax Tests, to facilitate the detection and conversion of GS1 syntaxes.

GS1 DataMatrix with GS1 element string syntax

GS1 DataMatrix with GS1 element string syntax

EAN-13 with plain syntax

EAN-13 with plain syntax

QR code with GS1 Digital Link URI syntax

QR code with GS1 Digital Link URI syntax

GS1 General Specifications

The core standards document of the GS1 system, that describes how GS1 barcodes and identification keys should be used.

GS1 Digital Link standard

Extends the power and flexibility of GS1 identifiers by making them part of the web, enabling the use of a single barcode for traditional B2B purposes such as point of sale, as well as B2C access to digital information about the entity being identified.

Support

Our customer service team is available 24/7 to answer your questions.

"Thanks to the GS1 Barcode Syntax Resource, building solutions to encode and decode GS1 barcodes is now simpler and faster, ensuring global standards can be used correctly and consistently throughout the clinical trial supply chain."
Pierre Fernandez Barbereau, R&D Clinical Supply Chain Operations, Industrial Development, Sanofi

THE GS1 BARCODE SYNTAX RESOURCES (BSR) including the GS1 BARCODE SYNTAX DEMO GUI AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITH NO WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR ANY WARRANTY OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF ITS USE. GS1 disclaims all liability for any damages arising from use or misuse of the results generated by this application, whether special, indirect, consequential, or compensatory damages, and including liability for infringement of any intellectual property rights relating to use of the syntax checks and calculations. Refer to the GS1 General Specifications and the GS1 Digital Link URI Specification for more details.

GS1 retains the right to make changes to these barcode syntax resources and any documents at any time, without notice. GS1 makes no warranty for the use of these barcode syntax resources and document and assumes no responsibility for any errors which may appear in the document, nor does it make a commitment to update the information contained herein.

GS1 and the GS1 logo are registered trademarks of GS1 AISBL.