GS1 DataBar™ (formerly RSS) symbols can identify small items and carry more information than the current EAN/UPC bar code. GS1 DataBar will enable GTIN identification for hard-to-mark products like jewelry and cosmetics and can carry GS1 Application Identifiers such as serial numbers, lot numbers, and expiration dates, creating solutions to support product authentication and traceability for fresh variable measure products and couponing.

View the GS1 DataBar Family of bar codes

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GS1 DataBar [formerly Reduced Space Symbology (RSS)] is a family of linear components of composite symbols that includes:

• Symbols intended for retail Point-of-Sale scanning
  • GS1 DataBar (DataBar-14)
  • GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional (DataBar-14 Stacked Omnidirectional)
  • GS1 DataBar Expanded
  • GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked

• Symbols that are not intended for retail Point-of-Sale scanning
  • GS1 DataBar Truncated (DataBar-14 Truncated)
  • GS1 DataBar Limited
  • GS1 DataBar Stacked

GS1 DataBar, GS1 DataBar Truncated, GS1 DataBar Stacked, GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional encode full 14-digit Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs). They are smaller than EAN-13 or UPC-A Bar Code Symbols. Each provides a linkage flag to indicate the existence of a 2D Composite Component. GS1 DataBar and GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional have omnidirectional scanning capability.

GS1 DataBar Limited is designed for very small item identification. It encodes 14 digit GTIN using indicator digits 0 or 1 and provides a linkage flag for the 2D Composite Component.

GS1 DataBar Expanded and DataBar Expanded Stacked will encode any of the GS1 System identification numbers as well as all other Application Identifiers. Each symbol has a variable length with a capacity of up to 74 characters. Each provides a linkage flag to indicate the existence of 2D Composite Component. Unlike the EAN-128 Bar Code Symbol, the DataBar Expanded Symbologies are designed to read in omnidirectional scanning environment.

GS1 DataBar is widely used in the healthcare industry for both pharmaceuticals and medical/surgical products.

GS1 DataBar has been identified to solve problems in the grocery industry where there had previously been no machine readable marking or there was inadequate information encoded.

One advantage of using a GS1 DataBar barcode rather than a UPC barcode is that, while either one can encode the GTIN for the product, the GS1 DataBar barcode can also include the expiration date. The GS1 intention is to make GS1 DataBar available in all trade item scanning systems beginning Jan 1, 2010.

The name was changed from RSS by GS1 due to the potential for confusion with Really Simple Syndication