Barcode Introduction > EAN-8
EAN-8 Overview
EAN-8, also known as UPC-8, GTIN-8, GS1-8, EAN/UCC-8, is the short version of EAN-8, which is a continuous linear barcode symbology. And the length of data encoded by EAN-8 is fixed. EAN-8 has 8 digits in total, including 7 character digits and one check digit. Unlike Code 128, EAN-8 can be decoded omni-directionally.

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The four main member barcodes of EAN/UPC barcode family could be accompanied by a supplement barcode symbol. EAN-8 is not an exception, which can be followed by a 2-digit or 5-digit Add-On symbol.
EAN-8 is available to encode GTIN-8 which is one set of product identifiers from the GS1 system. Besides, it is often used for some trade items sold at the Point-of-Sale around the world, especially on the small packages that don't have the enough space for an EAN-13.
EAN-8 Generation
EAN-8 Generator for .NET - .NET Barocde Component for EAN-8 generation in Windows and Web Applications

EAN-8 Generator for Winforms - A windows forms development tool for EAN-8 barcode image generation

EAN-8 Generator for ASP.NET - An ASP.NET SDK to insert EAN-8 barcode image in ASP.NET projects

EAN-8Generator for Java - Java Class Library that is used for EAN-8 bar code image generation in Java

EAN-8 Generator for Android - Smartphone Barcode Component for EAN-8 generation in Android system
EAN-8 Structure
EAN-8 barcode image comprises a left quiet zone, a left guard, left data characters, a centre guard, right data characters, a check digit, a right guard and a right quiet zone.
ean_8_barcode
An EAN-8 barcode symbology can be divided into three areas:
  • Number System is composed of two or three digits, which is essentially a country code.
  • Product Code is made up of five or four digits, which is a unique code assigned by the manufacture.
  • Check Digit is an additional digit used to verify the accuracy of the encoded data, which is allowed to be calculated in the same way as EAN-13. Click Checksum Calculation to know more details.
In addition, one EAN-8 symbol character contains four elements: two bars (dark bars) and two spaces (light bars), each of one, two, three, four modules in width. And there are seven modules in total in each EAN-8 character.
EAN-8 Encodable Data
Like EAN-13, EAN-8 can only encode numeric characters including:
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
EAN-8 Barcode Extension
As one member of EAN/UPC barcode family, EAN-8 can be accompanied by a two-digit or five-digit Add-On symbol. These two extensions are often named as EAN-8+2 and EAN-8+5, which are respectively used to represent some useful information required by specified applications.
EAN-8 & EAN-13 & UPC-A Comparison
Comparison EAN-8 EAN-13 UPC-A
Similarities Encodable Data Digits 0 to 9 Digits 0 to 9 Digits 0 to 9
Symbology Type Continuous Continuous Continuous
Check Digit Modulo Modulo 10 Modulo 10 Modulo 10
Directionally Decodable Omni-directionally Omni-directionally Omni-directionally
Differences Encodable Data Fixed: 8 digits Fixed: 13 digits Fixed: 12 digits
Application Used on small packages where an EAN-8 barcode would be too large, like cigarettes, pencils and chewing gum packets. Used to mark products often sold in a supermarket or some retail points of sale. Used to retail in North America, and in countries including the UK, Australia, and New Zealand for tracking trade items in stores.