2D Barcode
Linear Barcode
EAN-8
EAN-8
EAN-8 is a linear barcode symbology which derived from EAN-13. EAN stands for European Article Numbering. EAN-8 was originally designed to save space than EAN-13 barcode. If space is too small for EAN-13, EAN-8 will be the right choice. Please note only if EAN-13 occupies more than 1/4 of the front space of the article could an EAN-8 be used. It is widely used in application of small packages like cigarettes.
Formation of EAN-8
EAN-8 is the zero-suppressed version of European Article Numbering barcode with 8-digit. An EAN-8 number is consisted of 7 digits and 1 checksum digit. It contains of 2 parts. The left part is odd parity and right part is even parity. Each part has 4 encoding digits. The first and second digits defined the country code. A numbering authority is set in each country to assign manufacturer country codes to those companies. The following 5-digits define the product code. And the last one is the checksum digit.
  • Encoding as 101, EAN-8 is started with Left-hand guard bars, or start sentinel.
  • Two number system digits and first two message digits, both encoded as left-hand odd-parity characters. (EAN-8 barcode uses a Parity table to generate barcode).
  • Center guard bars that encoded as 01010.
  • Last three message digits which encoding as right-hand characters.
  • Checksum digit, encoded as right-hand character.
  • Encoding as 101, EAN-8 is ended with a Right-hand guar bars, or end sentinel.
Encoding Data of EAN-8
EAN-8 is capable of handling the Numeric digits from 0 to 9.
Checksum Digit of EAN-8
Correct calculation of a Checksum digit is necessarily before the EAN-8 is encoded. EAN-8 use a modulo 10 calculation method based on weighted summary of the digit values. Follow the steps to calculate the check digit:
  • Find the right-most digit of the code; put it into the table below as "odd" position (brief as "O").
  • Put digits in sequence from right to left into the table.
  • Multiply value with 3 of the digits in odd 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 and let 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 "1452315" is calculated as:

1 * 3+4 * 1+5 * 3+2 * 1+3 * 3+1 * 1+5 * 3=49

Number 1 must be added to 49 to produce a number evenly divisible by 10, thus the checksum digit is 1 and the completed bar code value is "14523151".
How to Encode EAN-8
EAN-8 uses the EAN-13 set. Follow the steps to encode the data "14523151" ("1" is the checksum digit):
  • Fixed No. 101 for the LEFT GUARD BARS.
  • Encoding first EAN-8 NUMBER SYSTEM DIGIT with left-hand odd parity (1).
  • Encoding second EAN-8 NUMBER SYSTEM DIGIT with left-hand odd parity (4).
  • Encoding first EAN-8 DATA DIGIT with left-hand odd parity (5).
  • Encoding second EAN-8 DATA DIGIT with left-hand odd parity (2).
  • Fixed No. CENTAR GUARD BARS.
  • Encoding third EAN-8 DATA DIGIT with right-hand odd parity (3).
  • Encoding Forth EAN-8 DATA DIGIT with right-hand odd parity (1).
  • Encoding Forth EAN-8 DATA DIGIT with right-hand odd parity (5).
  • Encoding the check digit (1) as right-hand character.
  • Fixed No. 101 for the RIGHT GUARD BAR.