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Create PDF417 barcodes for IDs, forms, shipping labels, and document workflows.
PDF417 is built for more data than a simple 1D barcode. It appears in forms, IDs, logistics labels, and document workflows where the barcode needs to carry a larger text payload.
PDF417 is used for document, ID, logistics, and data-heavy workflows where a stacked barcode is expected.
It can store more than many 1D barcodes, but large payloads need more physical space and careful printing.
Use the format required by the scanner or system. QR is common for consumer phone scanning. PDF417 is common in specific document and ID workflows.
Some apps can, but it is not as universal as QR scanning. If the code must be scanned by consumers with normal camera apps, test carefully or consider a QR code instead.
A single PDF417 symbol can store up to about 1,850 text characters or 2,710 digits. In practice, most uses stay well under 1 kilobyte. More data means a physically larger barcode, so keep the payload as short as your workflow allows.
The AAMVA standard requires PDF417 on North American driver's licenses because it can store structured personal data like name, date of birth, and address in a format that law enforcement and age verification systems can read with a single scan.
No. Basic 1D laser scanners cannot read PDF417. You need a 2D imager or a camera-based scanner. Check your scanner's spec sheet before building a workflow around PDF417.
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