GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional barcode
The compact GTIN-14 barcode on produce stickers and small items, in four shapes for different spaces.
Also known as: RSS-14, DataBar Stacked, DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional, DataBar Truncated, Reduced Space Symbology
What is GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional?
GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional carries a full 14-digit GTIN in a symbol about half the height of an EAN or UPC, which is why it sits on produce stickers, loose items, and small packs at point of sale. Three sibling variants reshape the same data: Stacked and Stacked Omnidirectional fold it into two rows for narrow labels, and Truncated shortens it for items scanned by hand. Every US and European register has been required to read the omnidirectional variants since 2014.
Encodes: A GTIN-14 with Application Identifier (01) implied. A GTIN-12 or GTIN-13 is zero-padded.
How GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional is structured
DataBar Omnidirectional encodes the 14 digits as four data characters separated by finder patterns, with the symbol-level checksum carried in the finders. The stacked variants split the same four characters across two rows.
| Part | Length | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Left guard | 1X | Narrow bar-space pair that opens the symbol. |
| Data characters | 4 × 15 or 16 modules | The 14-digit GTIN encoded as four characters, two either side of the finders. |
| Finder patterns | 2 × 15 modules | Fixed patterns that also carry the symbol checksum. |
| Right guard | 1X | Closes the symbol. |
Specifications
- Data
- 14 numeric digits (GTIN-14), AI (01) implied
- Check digit
- GS1 mod 10 inside the GTIN; the symbol has its own checksum
- Omnidirectional width
- 96X plus 1X quiet zones; 33X minimum height
- Stacked
- 50X wide, 13X tall in two rows; handheld or fixed imager, not omnidirectional
- Stacked Omnidirectional
- 50X wide, 69X tall in two rows; reads at POS from any angle
- Truncated
- 96X wide, 13X tall; handheld only
- X-dimension
- 0.264 mm to 0.660 mm at POS, target 0.330 mm
- Quiet zones
- 1X left and right
- POS requirement
- GS1 sunrise for DataBar at point of sale took effect in 2014
Dimensions are GS1 General Specifications targets. Confirm against the retailer’s current routing guide before a print run.
Where it is used
- Produce stickers and loose fresh items at point of sale
- Small cosmetics, jewelry, and hardware where an EAN or UPC will not fit
- Coupons and loyalty items in some programs
- Small healthcare items scanned at retail
Artwork on the pack, or pre-printed in bulk on stickers
A DataBar carrying only a GTIN is static: it is set into the pack artwork or printed in volume onto produce labels by the sticker supplier. The number is the same GTIN-14 the retailer holds in its item file, so the catalog is the system of record and the sticker is downstream. Choose the variant by the space: Omnidirectional where height allows, Stacked Omnidirectional on narrow labels that still cross a register, Stacked or Truncated only for handheld flows.
Retailers whose routing guides call for it
Each retailer page covers the transaction sets, labeling rules, and reported chargebacks behind the requirement.
Mistakes that cost money
A non-omnidirectional variant at the register
Stacked and Truncated need a handheld or an imager aimed at them. On a belt scanner they miss. Use Omnidirectional or Stacked Omnidirectional at POS.
Assuming every scanner is enabled
The 2014 sunrise made support standard, but older lanes and some independent stores still have DataBar turned off. Confirm with the retailer.
Twelve digits in a fourteen-digit symbol
DataBar always carries 14. Zero-pad the GTIN-12 correctly or the check digit fails.
X-dimension below spec on a curved sticker
Produce stickers curve around fruit. Stay near the 0.330 mm target so the bars survive the bend.
Using Expanded when only the GTIN is needed
DataBar Expanded adds attributes and width. If the item just needs an identifier, Omnidirectional is smaller and more widely read.
How Endless handles GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional
Endless keeps the GTIN-14 for loose and fresh items on the product record and pushes it to retailer item files, so the sticker on the apple and the line on the invoice agree, and PLU-to-GTIN mappings stay consistent across banners.
Frequently asked questions
Why use DataBar instead of a UPC on produce?
Space and data. A DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional fits a small sticker and still scans at the register, and the DataBar family can carry a GTIN-14 for a specific grower and pack, where the old PLU code identified only the commodity.
Which DataBar variant scans at point of sale?
Omnidirectional and Stacked Omnidirectional, plus Expanded, Expanded Stacked, and Limited. Stacked and Truncated are for handheld or fixed-position imagers only.
Is RSS-14 the same as GS1 DataBar?
Yes. Reduced Space Symbology was renamed GS1 DataBar in 2007. RSS-14 is DataBar Omnidirectional, RSS Limited is DataBar Limited, and RSS Expanded is DataBar Expanded.
Related symbologies
- GS1 DataBar Expanded→
The DataBar that carries weight, price, expiry, and lot alongside the GTIN, on fresh food and coupons.
- GS1 DataBar Limited→
The narrowest GS1 DataBar, for very small items whose GTIN begins with 0 or 1.
- UPC-A→
The 12-digit retail barcode scanned at point of sale across North America.
Definitions in the glossary
- GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)→
A globally unique product identifier used across trading partners and marketplaces.
Browse the full barcode symbology guide.
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