Barcode Reader Online

Read a barcode from an image online: choose photos or screenshots, drop them on the page or paste them, and each picture is searched for barcodes, up to 32 per image. The reader handles QR codes, UPC, EAN, Code 128, Data Matrix, PDF417 and more, explains GS1 data and never uploads your images.

Input

Live camera
Mode
Formats
More formats (8)

Reading every format.

Ready for images

Four codes on one picture: QR Code, EAN-13, GS1-128 and Data Matrix.

Result

The code you scan appears here with what it means.

Session

No scans yet

Codes you scan are listed here, newest first.

    How to Read a Barcode From an Image

    Give the reader one or more images and it lists every barcode it finds, with its type and content.

    1. Press Choose images and pick photos or screenshots, or drag them onto the page.
    2. To read a screenshot, copy it and paste it on this page with Ctrl+V, or Command+V on a Mac.
    3. Read the results: each code is outlined and numbered on the picture, and the result with the same number shows its type, content and meaning.
    4. Copy a result, or press Export CSV to download all of them as a spreadsheet file.

    Image Files the Reader Accepts

    The reader opens the image types your browser can display and reads several files at once.

    Photos and Screenshots

    • JPEG: photos from phones and cameras.
    • PNG: screenshots and images saved from documents.
    • WebP, GIF and BMP: images saved from web pages and older programs.

    Files From the Barcode Generator

    • SVG: vector files, which the reader draws at high resolution before reading.
    • PNG, WebP and JPEG: every image the Barcode.codes generator downloads, at any DPI.

    Barcodes in PDF Files

    PDF files are not opened directly. Zoom the PDF page until the barcode is large and sharp, take a screenshot and paste it here.

    What the Results Show

    Each result shows the barcode type, its content and what it means, such as GS1 data or a product number's check digit; technical data stays folded.

    GS1 Application Identifiers

    For GS1-128, GS1 DataMatrix, GS1 DataBar and GS1 QR codes, the content is split into Application Identifiers with their names, such as (01) GTIN, (17) expiry date and (10) batch or lot. GTIN and SSCC check digits are verified.

    Check Digits and Add-Ons

    UPC, EAN and ITF-14 results confirm that the check digit is valid. An EAN-2 or EAN-5 add-on is shown apart from the main number, and a book price add-on such as 52495 is shown as US$24.95.

    Raw Bytes and Symbology Identifier

    The folded Technical details list the raw bytes in hexadecimal and the symbology identifier, a short code such as ]C1 that tells a system which barcode type was read. For QR codes it also shows the error correction level.

    How to Get a Clear Barcode Photo

    A barcode reads best from a sharp, straight-on picture in which the code fills a good part of the frame.

    Crop Close to the Barcode

    Small codes in a large photo are hard to find. Crop the image around the barcode, keeping its white margin, before you choose it.

    Use the Original File, Not a Thumbnail

    Messaging apps and web pages often shrink images until thin bars merge. Use the original photo or a full-size screenshot instead.

    Avoid Blur and Glare

    Hold the phone steady, tap the screen to focus on the code and keep reflections off glossy labels. Daylight works better than a camera flash.

    Reading an Unreadable Barcode Image

    When a barcode in an image does not read, the reader repairs the picture in your browser and tries again, up to 14 ways within a time budget of 8 seconds, stopping at the first that reads.

    What the Automatic Repair Tries

    • Contrast stretch and sharpening: for faint print and slight blur.
    • Noise removal: for grainy or speckled photos.
    • Otsu and adaptive thresholds: turn the picture black and white, with one level or a level for each area, which helps with uneven light.
    • Glare and shadow removal: evens out a bright reflection or a dark corner.
    • Deskew and rotation: straighten a tilted barcode, then try turns of 15, 30 and 45 degrees.

    The result card names the repair that worked, and a slider over the picture compares the repaired image with the original. Cancel stops the repair at any time.

    Repairing a Picture by Hand

    Repair by hand offers the same steps as switches, a rotation slider and a choice of threshold, and reads the picture again after every change. For a barcode photographed at an angle, Correct perspective lets you drag four corners onto the code, or move them with the keyboard, and the reader straightens that area before reading it.

    What Repair Cannot Fix

    Repair cannot bring back bars that are missing: a barcode cut off at the edge of the photo, covered, or blurred so much that neighboring bars merge. In our test set of 20 synthetic damaged images, the reader read 4 as they were and 19 after the automatic repair; the one it missed is a Code 128 blurred across about one bar width. Take a new photo closer to the code in that case.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can the Reader Find Several Barcodes in One Image?

    Yes. It looks for up to 32 barcodes in each image and lists every one it finds, upright, sideways or upside down. You can also choose many images at once.

    Are My Images Uploaded?

    No. The images are decoded by code running in your browser and never leave your device. The results are kept in this browser's storage until you clear them, and saving can be turned off in Settings.

    Can It Read a Barcode From a Screenshot?

    Yes. Copy the screenshot and paste it on this page with Ctrl+V, or Command+V on a Mac, or save it and choose the file. A full-size screenshot reads better than a cropped thumbnail.

    Can I Read a Barcode From a Photo on My iPhone?

    Yes. Press Choose images, pick Photo Library and select the photo. The image is read in your iPhone's browser and is not uploaded.

    Why Is No Barcode Found in My Image?

    The barcode may be cut off, too small, badly blurred or in a format the reader does not support. The reader repairs the picture on its own before it gives up; if that fails, try Repair by hand, crop closer to the code or use the original image.

    What Is the Difference Between the Barcode Reader and the Barcode Scanner?

    Both read the same barcode types. The reader works with images you already have, many at once, while the barcode scanner reads live from your camera.

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