GS1 Composite Barcode Scanning
GS1 Composite barcodes combine a linear (1D) symbol with a 2D Composite Component to carry both product identification and detailed attribute data.
barKoder’s barcode scanner SDK fully supports decoding and structured parsing of all GS1 Composite symbols, enabling seamless integration of advanced traceability and compliance features.
What is a GS1 Composite Barcode?
GS1 Composite is a hybrid barcode standard that merges a 1D linear barcode (e.g. GS1-128, EAN-13, or GS1 DataBar) with a 2D Composite Component (CC-A, CC-B, or CC-C) stacked above it. This design allows the barcode to encode both primary item identifiers (like a GTIN) and supplemental data (like expiration dates, batch numbers, serial numbers, and more).
Composite symbols are widely used in healthcare, food traceability, retail, and logistics—especially where data compliance and end-to-end product tracking are required.
Key Features
Dual-level data: Combines linear GTINs with 2D attribute data in one scan
Supports Application Identifiers (AIs): Expiration, lot/batch, serial, weight, etc.
Flexible formats: Compatible with multiple linear base symbols (e.g. GS1-128, DataBar)
GS1-compliant: Fully aligned with industry traceability and safety regulations
Built-in error correction: Provided by the 2D component to ensure robust scanning
GS1 Composite Component Types
CC-A: Compact, stacked variant using MicroPDF417 for minimal space requirements
CC-B: Medium-length MicroPDF417 with greater capacity
CC-C: Full PDF417 symbol for high-density data, often paired with GS1-128
The base linear symbol may include GS1 DataBar, EAN/UPC, or GS1-128, depending on the use case and data requirements.
Common Use Cases
Healthcare: Vaccine packaging, unit-dose medications, surgical tools with serial traceability
Food Industry: Item-level expiration and origin tracking for produce and packaged foods
Retail: Traceable fresh products, product recalls, loyalty program tracking
Logistics: Serialized carton shipping, cold chain monitoring
Dedicated GS1 Parser Support
barKoder includes a built-in GS1 parser that automatically recognizes and decodes GS1 Application Identifiers from both the linear and 2D parts of Composite symbols.
This means your app or backend can instantly extract:
(01) GTIN
(17) Expiration date
(10) Lot or batch number
(21) Serial number
(7005) Price per unit of measure
...and many more GS1 AIs
Learn more about the GS1 Parser →
Why Use barKoder for GS1 Composite?
Full Composite Support for all combinations of linear + 2D symbols
Fast and accurate decoding on mobile devices, even under poor lighting or curved surfaces
Cross-platform compatibility (iOS, Android, MAUI, Flutter, React Native, Cordova, etc.)
Automatic GS1 AI parsing for instant structured data extraction
Real-world tested for pharmaceutical, food traceability, and retail applications
Supported Composite Combinations
GS1 DataBar (CC-A, CC-B): Retail produce, small labels
EAN-13 or UPC-A (CC-A): Packaged goods with expiration or batch info
GS1-128 (CC-B, CC-C): Logistics, cold chain, pharma
GS1 DataBar Expanded (CC-A, CC-B): Extended attribute data on constrained labels
Start Scanning GS1 Composite with barKoder
Add GS1 Composite scanning to your app in minutes with barKoder’s SDK. With robust decoding, real-time parsing, and broad device support, you can simplify traceability and data capture across all industries.
