2D Codes • 100% Free & Browser-Based
Stacked linear 2D barcode format used on official identification cards, airline boarding passes, and FedEx shipping labels.
What is PDF417 Barcode?
Stacked linear 2D barcode format used on official identification cards, airline boarding passes, and FedEx shipping labels. Defined under standard ISO/IEC 15438, PDF417 is engineered for fast, reliable optical scanning across industrial and commercial environments.
| Specification | Details |
|---|
| Standard Symbology | PDF417 (ISO/IEC 15438) |
| Character Set | Full ASCII, binary data, numbers, and text (up to 1.1 kilobytes per symbol) |
| Checksum Algorithm | Configurable Reed-Solomon error correction levels (Level 0 to Level 8) |
| Quiet Zone Margin | 2 times the narrow bar width on left/right and top/bottom |
| Processing Mode | 100% Client-Side In-Browser (Zero Server Logs) |
✅ Key Advantages
- •Functions as a portable data file encoding full names, addresses, and biographical records without internet access
- •Scannable by both raster laser scanners and camera area imagers
- •Adjustable error correction level withstands tears and creases
📦 Common Use Cases
- •US & Canadian driver licenses and government ID cards (AAMVA standard)
- •Airline boarding passes (IATA BCBP standard)
- •Postal shipping labels (USPS, FedEx, DHL)
- •Paper tax forms and customs declarations
Frequently Asked Questions
What does PDF stand for in PDF417?
PDF stands for "Portable Data File". The "417" signifies that each pattern is 17 modules long and consists of 4 bars and 4 spaces.
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