2D Barcode
Linear Barcode
Code 2 of 5
Code 2 of 5
Code 25 is also known as Standard 2 of 5, 2/5 Industrial, 2/5 standard and Industrial 2 of 5. Code 25 is a low-density, self-checking and numeric-only linear barcode which designed by Identicon Corp. and Computer Identics Corp. in 1970. It is a discrete, binary level barcode which originally used widely in warehouse management, photo ID industry, ticket marking of airlines and cardboard printing. Code 25 only uses width of bar to encode the data. The name "Code 25" indicates Code 25 is composed of 5 bars. Usually 2 of the 5 bars are wide while remaining 3 bars are narrow.
Data Encoded in Code 25
Code 25 is a low-density numeric only symbology with variable length. Character set of Code 25 is numeric digits from 0 to 9.
Structure of Code 25
The structure of a standard 2 of 5 barcode is composed of:

A start character

Character digits encoded

Optional Mod 10 check digit

A stop character

The spaces in the Code 25 are used to separate the barcode. Width of spaces is usually equal to the width of the narrow bar. Usually, the width of narrow bar is 1/3 of the width of wide bar.
Checksum Digit of Code 25
A standard 2 of 5 barcode requires no check digits since it is self-checking. And a modulo 10 check digit is optional in order to improve the accuracy and data security of the Code 25. Follow the steps to get the check digit:
  • Find the right-most digit of the barcode, put it into the table below as "Even" position (in the position column as "E")
  • Put digits in sequence from right to left into the table
  • Multiply value with 3 of the digits in even position
  • Multiply value with 1 of the digits in odd position
  • Sum all the total of the weighted summary column
  • Add a number plus the result. The summary could be evenly divided by 10. The number added is the checksum digit
Note: If summary calculated of the message could be evenly divided by 10. Checksum is "0".
Eg: Checksum of "123456" is calculated as:

Summing up all the result in the column "Summary": 1 + 6 + 3 + 12 + 5 + 18 =45. Then we add one number which could be even divisible by 10. That is: 5+45=50. Number 5 is the smallest value added with 98 that could be even divisible by 10. Thus Number 5 is the check digit.
Family of 2 of 5 barcode

Family of 2 of 5 barcode is consisted of Code 25, IATA 2 of 5, Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF), Matrix 2 of 5 and the China Postal code.
  • Code 25: Code 25 is a discrete, self-checking numeric only, discrete, binary level barcode symbology.
  • IATA 2 of 5: IATA 2 of 5 is a variation of the Code 25 symbology which usually employed in the airline industry.
  • Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF): Interleaved 2 of 5 is a high density, continuous, self-checking numeric symbology. It is widely used in the retailing system. Matrix 2 of 5: Matrix 2/5 is an discrete, numeric-only symbology with an optional modulo 10 check digit.
  • The China Postal Code is a variant on Matrix 2 of 5.