About Code 39 Barcodes
Code 39, also known as “Code 3 of 9,” is one of the oldest and most widely recognized barcode symbologies. Developed in 1974, it is a self-checking, variable-length barcode that does not require a check digit for basic use. Code 39 encodes uppercase letters (A-Z), digits (0-9), and a set of special characters, making it suitable for a broad range of alphanumeric labeling applications.
Code 39 Character Set
Code 39 supports the following characters:
- Uppercase Letters: A through Z (26 characters)
- Digits: 0 through 9 (10 characters)
- Special Characters: Space, hyphen (-), period (.), dollar sign ($), forward slash (/), plus (+), and percent (%)
Each character is represented by nine elements—five bars and four spaces—of which three are always wide, giving the symbology its “3 of 9” name.
Common Use Cases
- US Department of Defense (MIL-STD-1189): Code 39 is the standard barcode symbology specified by the US military for marking all products sold to the Department of Defense. It has been mandated under MIL-STD-1189 since the early 1980s.
- Automotive Industry: Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) labels on automotive parts and assemblies frequently use Code 39 barcodes for traceability across the supply chain.
- Government and Federal Agencies: Many government agencies use Code 39 for asset tracking, employee badges, and document management due to its long-established reliability and widespread scanner support.
- Healthcare: Code 39 is used in healthcare settings for patient wristbands, specimen labels, and pharmacy inventory, often in conjunction with the Health Industry Bar Code (HIBC) standard.
Related Barcode Types
- Code 128 Barcode Generator — A higher-density symbology that supports the full ASCII character set, ideal when compact barcodes are needed.
- Barcode Generator Hub — Explore all supported barcode formats.
Related Tools
You might also find these tools useful:
- Barcode Generator — Browse all barcode formats in one place.
- QR Code Generator — Create QR codes for URLs, contacts, WiFi, and more.
- Password Generator — Generate secure, random passwords.