ITF-14: Difference, Length and Character Encoding

Written By: Teachable Tech

Date: 13/05/20223

ITF-14 barcode is different from other barcode types in terms of its structure, usage, readability, length, print quality, and validation. The ITF-14 barcode is primarily used to label and track products and assets in the supply chain and requires high print quality and accuracy to be effectively read by a barcode scanner. Other barcode types have more specific applications, but may not be as versatile or efficient as ITF-14 barcode.

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Difference Between ITF-14 Barcode and Other Barcodes

ITF-14 barcode, also known as the Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF) barcode, is different from other barcode types in several ways. In this section, we will discuss the differences between ITF-14 barcode and other barcode types.

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Structure:

One of the primary differences between ITF-14 barcode and other barcode types is its structure. The ITF-14 barcode consists of a 14-digit number that is encoded in a series of black and white bars. The bars are arranged in two interleaved rows, with each row representing a group of five digits. The bars in each row are of different widths, with the narrow bars representing zeros and the wider bars representing ones. In contrast, other barcode types, such as UPC and EAN barcodes, consist of a 12 or 13-digit number encoded in a series of bars of different widths.
Usage:

ITF-14 barcode is primarily used to label and track products and assets in the supply chain, while other barcode types have more specific applications. For example, UPC barcodes are commonly used in the retail industry to label and track consumer products, while EAN barcodes are used in Europe and other countries outside of North America.
Print Quality:

The ITF-14 barcode requires high print quality to be accurately read by a barcode scanner. This means that it must be printed using high-quality printing equipment, such as a thermal transfer printer or a high-quality label stock. Other barcode types, such as UPC and EAN barcode, can be printed using lower quality equipment and label stock.
Readability:

The ITF-14 barcode is designed to be read using a barcode scanner that is capable of reading 2D barcodes. This makes it more reliable and efficient than other barcode types, which may require special scanners or additional equipment to read. The ITF-14 barcode is also capable of storing more information than other barcode types, making it more versatile and useful in various applications.
Length:

The ITF-14 barcode is longer than various other barcode types, which allows it to store more extra information. This makes it useful for applications where additional information, such as batch or lot numbers, is required. In contrast, other barcode types, such as the UPC and EAN barcodes, have a fixed length and cannot store additional information beyond the basic product identifier.
Validation:

The ITF-14 barcode includes a check digit, which is used to validate the accuracy of the barcode. This ensures that the barcode is correctly encoded and can be accurately read by a barcode scanner. Other barcode types, such as the UPC and EAN barcodes, also include a check digit, but the validation process is different.

Minimum and Maximum Length of ITF-14 Barcode

The ITF-14 barcode, also known as the Interleaved 2 of 5 barcode, is a type of linear barcode that is widely used in the packaging and shipping industries. The ITF-14 barcode is used to encode a 14-digit Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) and is capable of encoding additional information such as batch numbers and expiry dates. In this section, we will discuss the minimum and maximum length of an ITF-14 barcode.

The minimum length of an ITF-14 barcode is 14 digits. This is because the ITF-14 barcode is designed to encode a 14-digit GTIN, which is the unique identifier assigned to a specific product or item. The 14-digit GTIN consists of the following components:

The GS1 Prefix	This is a three-digit number that identifies the GS1 organization that issued the GTIN.
The Item Reference Number	This is a six or nine-digit number that identifies the product or item being labelled.
The Check Digit	This is a single-digit number that is used to verify the accuracy of the GTIN.

When the GTIN is encoded in an ITF-14 barcode, it is preceded by a leading zero, which makes the total number of digits in the barcode 15. However, the leading zero is not included in the GTIN, so the minimum length of an ITF-14 barcode is 14 digits.
The maximum length of an ITF-14 barcode depends on the width of the bars and spaces used to encode the data. The ITF-14 barcode consists of two interleaved rows of bars and spaces, with each row representing a group of five digits. Each digit is encoded using five bars and five spaces, with each bar and space being either wide or narrow.
The minimum bar width for an ITF-14 barcode is 0.013 inches (0.33 mm), and the minimum space width is 0.020 inches (0.50 mm). The maximum width for a wide bar is four times the minimum width, or 0.052 inches (1.32 mm), while the maximum width for a narrow bar is two times the minimum width, or 0.026 inches (0.66 mm).

Based on these specifications, the maximum length of an ITF-14 barcode can be calculated by determining the number of bars and spaces that can fit within the maximum allowable width of the barcode. For example, if the maximum width of the barcode is 4 inches (101.6 mm), the maximum number of bars and spaces that can fit within that width is:

Width in inches / (Minimum bar width + Minimum space width) = Maximum number of bars and spaces

4 inches / (0.013 inches + 0.020 inches) = 174.36 bars and spaces

Since each group of five digits is encoded using 10 bars and spaces, the maximum number of digits that can be encoded in an ITF-14 barcode can be calculated as follows:

Maximum number of bars and spaces / 10 = Maximum number of digits

174.36 bars and spaces / 10 = 17.44 digits

Therefore, the maximum length of an ITF-14 barcode is 17 digits, which includes the leading zero and the check digit.

In summary, the minimum length of an ITF-14 barcode is 14 digits, which corresponds to the 14-digit GTIN assigned to a product or item. The maximum length of an ITF-14 barcode depends on the width of the bars and spaces used to encode the data, and can be calculated based on the maximum allowable width of the barcode.

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Characters Encoded in ITF-14 Barcode

➤The ITF-14 barcode, also known as the Interleaved 2 of 5 barcode, is a type of linear barcode that is widely used in the packaging and shipping industries. The ITF-14 barcode is used to encode a 14-digit Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) and is capable of encoding additional information such as batch numbers and expiry dates. In this section, we will discuss the characters that can be encoded in an ITF-14 barcode.

➤The ITF-14 barcode uses two interleaved rows of bars and spaces to encode the data. Each digit is represented by five bars and five spaces, with each bar and space being either wide or narrow. The encoding scheme used in the ITF-14 barcode is based on the Interleaved 2 of 5 (I2of5) code, which is a numeric-only barcode that can encode any combination of digits from 0 to 9.

The ITF-14 barcode can encode the following characters:

Numeric Digits: The ITF-14 barcode can encode any combination of the digits 0 to 9. The 14-digit GTIN is a required component of the ITF-14 barcode and must be encoded using numeric digits.
Serial Numbers: The ITF-14 barcode can encode serial numbers, which are unique identifiers assigned to individual products. Serial numbers can be encoded using the letters A to Z and the digits 0 to 9.
Check Digit: The ITF-14 barcode includes a check digit that is used to verify the accuracy of the GTIN. The check digit is calculated using the Modulo 10 algorithm, which involves summing the products of each digit in the GTIN with alternating weights of 3 and 1, and then subtracting the result from the nearest higher multiple of 10.
Batch Numbers: The ITF-14 barcode can encode batch numbers, which are alphanumeric codes that identify a specific production batch of a product. Batch numbers can be encoded using the letters A to Z and the digits 0 to 9.
Leading Zero: The ITF-14 barcode requires a leading zero to be added to the 14-digit GTIN. The leading zero is used to distinguish the ITF-14 barcode from other barcodes that may use the same barcode symbology.
Expiry Dates: The ITF-14 barcode can encode expiry dates, which are dates after which a product should not be used or consumed. Expiry dates can be encoded in the format YYMMDD, where YY represents the year, MM represents the month, and DD represents the day.

It is important to note that the ITF-14 barcode is a numeric-only barcode and cannot encode letters, symbols, or other special characters. If there is a need to encode non-numeric data, a different barcode symbology, such as Code 128 or QR code, should be used.

In summary, the ITF-14 barcode can encode numeric digits, a leading zero, a check digit, batch numbers, expiry dates, and serial numbers. The encoding scheme used in the ITF-14 barcode is based on the Interleaved 2 of 5 (I2of5) code, which is a numeric-only barcode that can encode any combination of digits from 0 to 9.

ITF-14 Barcode Read and Decode

The ITF-14 barcode, also known as the Interleaved 2 of 5 barcode, is a linear barcode that is widely used in the packaging and shipping industries. The ITF-14 barcode is capable of encoding a 14-digit Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) and is used to identify products and track inventory. In this section, we will discuss how the ITF-14 barcode is read and decoded.

Reading an ITF-14 Barcode:

The ITF-14 barcode can be read by a barcode scanner, also known as a barcode reader. A barcode scanner is a device that uses a light source and a sensor to capture the bars and spaces of the barcode and convert them into electrical signals. The electrical signals are then processed by the scanner to decode the data encoded in the barcode.
To read an ITF-14 barcode, the barcode scanner must be able to detect the start and stop characters of the barcode. The start character of the ITF-14 barcode is a narrow bar followed by a narrow space, while the stop character is a wide bar followed by a narrow space. The start and stop characters are used by the scanner to identify the beginning and end of the barcode and to distinguish the barcode from other barcodes that may be present in the scanning environment.
Once the start and stop characters have been detected, the barcode scanner uses a series of mirrors and lenses to reflect the light from the barcode onto a sensor. The sensor converts the light into electrical signals that are then processed by the scanner to decode the data encoded in the barcode.

Decoding an ITF-14 Barcode:

The data encoded in the ITF-14 barcode consists of a 14-digit GTIN, a leading zero, a check digit, and optional data such as batch numbers and expiry dates. The GTIN is the primary data element in the ITF-14 barcode and is used to identify the product. The check digit is used to verify the accuracy of the GTIN and to detect any errors that may have occurred during the barcode scanning process.
To decode the data encoded in the ITF-14 barcode, the scanner first converts the bars and spaces of the barcode into a series of binary digits (0s and 1s). The binary digits are then grouped into pairs, with each pair representing a single digit in the GTIN or other data elements encoded in the barcode.
The GTIN is the first 14 digits of the barcode and is encoded using the Interleaved 2 of 5 (I2of5) code. The I2of5 code is a numeric-only barcode that uses two interleaved rows of bars and spaces to encode the data. Each digit is represented by five bars and five spaces, with each bar and space being either wide or narrow. The I2of5 code is used to encode the GTIN in the ITF-14 barcode to ensure that the barcode can be read quickly and accurately.
The check digit is the 15th digit of the barcode and is calculated using the Modulo 10 algorithm. The Modulo 10 algorithm involves summing the products of each digit in the GTIN with alternating weights of 3 and 1, and then subtracting the result from the nearest higher multiple of 10. The check digit is then encoded using the I2of5 code and is included in the barcode to ensure that the GTIN is accurate and has not been corrupted during the barcode scanning process.