EAN 8

EAN-8

EAN-8 is derived from the EAN-13 barcode symbology and is designed for small packaging. It usually carries a GTIN-8.

Also known as: JAN-8.

Misnomers: UCC-8.

Variants:

• EAN-8+2 is an extension of EAN-8 that includes a two-digit add-on.
• EAN-8+5 is an extension of EAN-8 that includes a five-digit add-on.
• EAN-Velocity is a special form of EAN-8 starting with 0 that is used for in-store coupons.
• EAN-13 is a longer variant of EAN-8 which has a distinct number system based on GTIN-13.
• EAN-8 Composite is a variant of EAN-8 that should be used when a CC-A or CC-B GS1 composite 2D component is required.

Standards: ISO/IEC 15420, BS EN 797, GS1 General Specifications.

Data and Options

• The data field takes either seven or eight digits, optionally followed by a space then two or five digits if an EAN-2 or EAN-5 add-on is required.
• If seven digits of primary data are supplied then the check digit is calculated automatically. Otherwise the provided check digit will be verified.
• The includetext option should normally be supplied.
• The guardwhitespace option enables the display of whitespace guard marks.

Examples

Identical symbols, input provided with and without a check digit:

Data:    95200002
Options: includetext
Encoder: ean8

Data:    9520000
Options: includetext
Encoder: ean8

Truncated with whitespace guards:

Data:    95200002
Options: includetext height=0.5 guardwhitespace
Encoder: ean8