Code-39 Barcode Generator (Single or Bulk) - Shripada.com

What Is a Code 39 Barcode?

Code 39 is one of the oldest barcode formats still used in many industries today. It is also known as Code 3 of 9.

Unlike UPC and EAN barcodes, which are mainly designed for numeric product identification, Code 39 can encode letters, numbers, spaces, and several special characters.

This makes it useful for part numbers, asset IDs, inventory labels, serial numbers, access cards, and other situations where an alphanumeric barcode is needed.

You may find Code 39 barcodes in areas such as:

Code 39 is especially useful when the information being encoded contains letters and numbers rather than only numeric product codes.

Why Is It Called Code 39?

The name Code 39 comes from the way its characters are encoded.

Each character uses 9 elements:

Out of these 9 elements, exactly 3 are wide.

That is why the format is also called Code 3 of 9.

In simple terms:

9 elements per character + 3 wide elements = Code 39

The combination of wide and narrow bars and spaces creates a different pattern for each supported character.

What Characters Can Code 39 Encode?

What About Lowercase Letters?

Standard Code 39 does not have separate lowercase characters.

If you enter lowercase letters, the tool automatically converts them to uppercase.

What Makes Code 39 Different From UPC and EAN?

Retail barcodes such as UPC-A and EAN-13 are closely connected to standardized product-numbering systems. They are mainly used for retail products and numeric identifiers.

Code 39 works differently. It is designed to handle alphanumeric identifiers and is commonly useful for internal identification purposes.

1. Code 39

2. UPC/EAN

This makes Code 39 a practical option when you need an alphanumeric identifier rather than a retail product number.

What Is the Modulo 43 Check Character?

Code 39 can use an optional Modulo 43 check character.

It provides an additional way to detect errors in the encoded data.

The check character is calculated from the characters in the barcode using the Code 39 character values and a modulo 43 calculation.

The result is then represented by one additional Code 39 character.

Is Mod 43 Required?

No. The Mod 43 check character is optional in Code 39.

Many Code 39 implementations do not use it.

However, some workflows may require or prefer it for additional data validation.

This tool gives you the option to turn the Mod 43 check character on when needed.

What Does "Self-Checking" Mean?

Code 39 is often described as a self-checking barcode.

Each character has a distinct bar-and-space pattern, which allows scanners to detect some types of reading errors.

However, self-checking does not mean that every possible error will automatically be detected.

For applications that require an additional validation layer, the optional Mod 43 check character can be used.

Key Features of the Code 39 Barcode Generator

1. Automatic Input Filtering

The tool checks the characters as you type.

Characters that are not supported by Code 39 are automatically blocked or filtered.

This helps prevent invalid input from being used to generate a barcode.

2. Start and Stop Characters

The generator automatically handles the Code 39 start and stop characters.

You do not need to manually add the asterisks (*) around your data.

3. Custom Barcode Appearance

You can customize the barcode width, height, Bar & background color

4. PNG and SVG Export

You can download an individual barcode as:

5. Bulk Export

When generating multiple barcodes, you can export them as ZIP file barcode images, Excel spreadsheet.

6. Barcode Breakdown

The tool can provide useful information about the generated barcode, including:

Who Can Use a Code 39 Barcode Generator?

A Code 39 Barcode Generator can be useful for businesses, technical teams, and anyone who needs to create alphanumeric barcodes for internal identification or testing.

1. Warehouse and Inventory Teams

Warehouse and inventory teams can create barcodes for:

2. Manufacturers

Manufacturers can use Code 39 for:

3. Logistics and Shipping Teams

Code 39 can be used for alphanumeric shipment and tracking identifiers where the receiving system supports the Code 39 symbology.

4. IT and Access-Control Teams

IT and access-control teams can create barcode identifiers for:

5. Developers and QA Testers

Developers and QA testers can generate test barcodes for:

How to Use the Code 39 Barcode Generator

1. Single Code 39 Barcode

To generate single code 39 barcode, follow these simple steps:

You do not need to manually add * at the beginning or end. The generator handles the Code 39 start and stop characters automatically.

2. Multiple Code 39 Barcodes

To generate bulk code 39 barcode, follow these simple steps:

Code 39 vs Code 128

Code 39 and Code 128 can both encode alphanumeric information, but they are different barcode symbologies.