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Using Online Barcode Generators - A Fast and Free Way to Track and Collect Data

Barcodes are becoming the next big buzz in technology. From tracking items for businesses to tactically collecting data for marketing campaigns, barcodes are everywhere. In fact, many online sites now offer free barcode generators. Providing this resource at no expense to the visitor is a great tool for the website to bring in traffic and a cost-effective tool for businesses and entrepreneurs that would like to track the exposure of their services and products.

There are several sites that offer a standard linear generator and a 2D barcode generator. For someone who has never used an online barcode generator before, an individual may be surprised at the simplicity of the process. The first step to using the generator is knowing the specifics about what type of barcode to create.

Barcode generators typically offer several different types of standard barcode formats, including Code 128, Code 39, Ean 8 and 13, UPC A, 2 and 5, as well as US Postal. Some 2D generators give the user a choice of Data matrix or QR formats. After choosing the barcode type, the user would need to select the output of the barcode which can be JPG or PNG file formats. Additional options that can be customized include the type of font the width and the height of your barcode. The last step of the process is entering the data to be encrypted in the barcode itself.

The most obvious differences between a 1D linear and a 2D barcode are their appearances. For instance, a 1D linear code consist of several vertical bars that are encoded with data. As for a 2D data matrix format, the image may appear to be random black and white pixels, but rest assured, there is a message encoded in this image as well.

It is true that 1D linear barcodes have been around the longest out of any barcode format, but this type of barcode generator is slowly being phased out by the use of 2D and 3D barcodes. A major convenience of 2D and 3D barcodes is they can be read by camera phone and smart phone applications. This means consumers on the go can collect data about a product in an instant by scanning it with their phone instead of requiring a specialized scanner. The future of using phones and barcodes to transfer and track information is file and document transfers. While there have already been developments in this area, the popularity of this function is still growing. Some 3D barcodes currently can store videos for mobile devices and it is only a matter of time before barcodes become a mainstream form of communicating and sending data to one another. The ability to create barcodes online is a step towards the future of communication and data collection.