Codabar is a self-checking, variable length bar code that can encode 16 data characters. It is used primarily for numeric data, but also encodes six special characters. Codabar is useful for encoding dollar and mathematical figures because a decimal point, plus sign, and minus sign can be encoded.

Codabar supports the following characters:

• Ten digits

• Six special characters ($ : / . + -)

• Four different start/stop codes (A - D)

A Codabar bar code consists of the following elements:

• Leading quiet zone

• Start character

• Data characters

• Stop character

• Trailing quiet zone

Codabar supports three character encoding schemes:

• Ten digits (0-9) and the special characters $ (dollar sign) and - (minus sign) are printed with one wide bar and one wide space. All other elements are narrow.

• Four special characters (: / . +) are encoded with three wide bars and no wide spaces.

• Four start/stop characters (a b c d) are encoded with one wide bar and two wide spaces.

An example of a Codabar bar code is shown below: