2D Barcode
Linear Barcode
Code 93
Code 93
Code 93 is also known as ANSI/AIM Code 93, USS 93, Code 9/3, Code 93 Full ASCII and Code 93 Extended. It is an evolutionary barcode of Code 39 with variable length and higher density. Code 93 is a linear continuous symbology. It was originally designed to encode information of post delivery system by Intermec in 1982. Two check digits C and K are required by Code 93 symbology.
Encoding Data of Code 93
The characters encoded in Code 93 are exactly the same as Code 39. Code 93 Symbology is capable of encoding the data below:
  • 26 Uppercase letters from A to Z
  • 10 Numeric digits from 0 to 9
  • 7 Special characters: *, -, $, %, (Space), ., /, and +
  • All 128 ASCII characters could be encoded in the Full ASCII Mode or Extended Version
Structure of Code 93
Code 93 is consisted of 9 modules.
  • A leading quiet zone
  • Start character which is represented by the asterisk (*) character
  • Data represented by one or more symbol characters
  • stop character
  • The "C" and "K" checksum digits
  • Trailing quiet zone which is represented by the second asterisk (*) character
How to Encode Code 93
In Code 93, "dark" or "bar" section is represented by the number "1" and "light" or "space" section is represented by the number "0". For example, if we code the character "CODE93", just follow the steps:
  • The START character (*) is encoded as 101011110.
  • The digit "C": enocded is encoded as 110100010.
  • The digit "O": enocded is encoded as 100101100.
  • The digit "D": enocded is encoded as 110010100.
  • The digit "E": enocded is encoded as 110100110.
  • The digit "9": enocded is encoded as 100001010.
  • The digit "3": enocded is encoded as 101000010.
  • The "C" check digit "P": enocded as 100010110.
  • The "K" check digit "V": enocded as 110011010.
  • The STOP character (*): 101011110.
  • Termination Bar: 1.
Checksum digits of Code 93
Code 93 has two modulo-47 check characters "C" and "K". Follow the example of the character "CODE93", the checksum digit is calculated based on the modulo 47 method.

"C" checksum character calculation digit:
  • Find the right-most digit of the Code 93, put it into the right most column of the table below.
  • The weighting value is "1" of the right most column, in sequence follow with 2, 3, 4 up to 20. Then start from 1 again.
  • Multiply the relative in value column with weight column.
  • Sum up all the result and divide the result in step 3 with 47.

Checksum digit of "CODE93" is calculated like: weighted summary is 72 + 120 + 52 + 42 + 18 + 3 = 307. Modulo 47 gives a value of 6 with remainder 25. The value 25 is associated with the "P" in the table, so the letter ā€œPā€ is the "C" check character.

The "K" checksum character calculation method is the same of the steps of the "C" checksum. Do not forget to add value of "C" checksum calculated in last step. Weighted summary is 84 +144 + 65 + 56 + 27 + 6 + 25= 407. Using Modulo 47 to divide 407. It gives us a value of 8 with a remainder of 31. The value 31 is associated with the character ā€œV " in the table. So the letter "P" is the "C" check character.