EAN-8 Barcode Symbology

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.

Barcode EAN-8