Data rules
Any printable ASCII, up to 200 characters
- Length: 1–200 characters
- Character set: alphanumeric
- Check digit: not used
- Quiet zone: 1 modules
2D codes
Data Matrix
Data Matrix encodes text or numbers in a compact square with strong error correction — ideal for very small parts.
Preview
Enter valid data to see the barcode.
Encoding happens entirely in your browser. This tool encodes numbers you already own — it does not issue or register GS1 company prefixes.
Printing notes
- ECC 200 Reed-Solomon error correction allows a code to be read with up to about 30% of the symbol damaged.
- Symbols remain readable at a few millimetres square, which is why Data Matrix dominates electronics marking.
- For GS1 traceability data use the GS1 DataMatrix generator instead.
Workflow links
Related barcode formats
GS1 DataMatrix
GS1 DataMatrix packs Application Identifier data into a small 2D square, widely used for healthcare and direct part marking.
Aztec Code
Aztec codes need no quiet zone, which makes them the standard for rail and airline tickets printed edge to edge.
PDF417
PDF417 is a stacked linear symbology holding well over a kilobyte of data — used on IDs, boarding passes and shipping labels.
What is Data Matrix?
Data Matrix is a 2D matrix symbology that encodes up to about 2,335 alphanumeric characters in a square or rectangular grid with an L-shaped finder pattern.
It reads reliably at very small sizes and under poor contrast, and it is the usual choice for direct part marking by laser or dot peen.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Data Matrix generator free to use?
Yes. The Data Matrix generator is free, has no signup and adds no watermark. The symbol is encoded in your browser, so the data you type is never uploaded to a server.
What file format should I download for printing Data Matrix?
Download SVG for anything that will be printed. SVG is vector, so bar widths and the quiet zone stay exact at any size. PNG is fine for screens and slide decks, but never scale a PNG barcode up — enlarging it blurs the bar edges and scanners start failing.
Data Matrix or QR code — which is better?
Data Matrix is more compact at small sizes and dominant in industrial marking. QR is better known to consumers and easier to scan with a phone camera at distance.
Standards & references
This page follows the published specifications. The bodies that own them: