Barcodes have become ubiquitous in our everyday lives. We scan them at the grocery store, at the airport, and in many other places. This raises the question – do barcodes expire? Can the passage of time render a barcode unreadable? Let’s take a closer look at how barcodes work and the factors that impact their lifespan.
How do barcodes work?
A barcode is a machine-readable representation of data that allows information to be collected rapidly and accurately. There are different types of barcodes, but they all work on the same basic principles:
- A barcode is made up of a series of parallel lines and spaces of varying widths.
- These line and space patterns correspond to numbers and letters through a standardized encoding system.
- A barcode reader illuminates the barcode with a red light and measures the amount of light reflected back.
- The reflected light pattern is decoded into the original data.
So at their core, barcodes rely on the ability of the barcode reader to accurately distinguish between printed lines and blank spaces. As long as the lines and spaces maintain enough contrast to be read by the scanner, the barcode can still encode and communicate data.
Do barcodes have expiration dates?
Barcodes themselves do not have mandated expiration dates. There are no universal rules that dictate that a barcode must be retired from use after a certain period of time. Barcodes do not have internal clocks that disable them after a preset lifespan. They can continue to function indefinitely as long as they remain physically intact and readable by scanners.
However, there are a few situations where barcodes may need to be refreshed or replaced due to external factors:
- Product redesigns – Consumer products with barcode labels are periodically redesigned and updated. New packaging often means updating the barcode.
- New barcode standards – As barcode technology evolves, new standards and symbologies emerge. There is incentive to adopt newer barcodes that offer advantages.
- Inventory systems changes – Businesses may implement new inventory management systems that necessitate modifying barcode data and numbering schemes.
But in the absence of these forces, there is no mandated expiration imposed on a barcode due to the mere passage of time.
How long do barcodes last?
While barcodes themselves do not technically expire, the longevity of any particular barcode depends on a number of factors:
Print quality
A clearly printed, high contrast barcode will last longer than a faint, blurry mark. Barcodes printed in durable industrial labels, etched into metal plates, or embroidered into fabric tend to have greater endurance than mass-produced, low cost paper labels. High quality printing processes produce barcodes that can retain their readability for many years if protected from wear.
Material durability
The material on which the barcode is printed determines how well it withstands physical abrasion, fading from light exposure, and other environmental damage. Laser-etched barcodes on metal or plastic substrates hold up very well. Thermal printed barcodes on receipt paper fade quickly. Industrial grade polyester and vinyl label stocks fall somewhere in between.
| Material | Durability Level |
|---|---|
| Metal or plastic etching | Very high |
| Durable polyester/vinyl | Moderate to high |
| Paper | Low |
| Thermal receipt paper | Very low |
Exposure to elements
Barcodes exposed to moisture, abrasion, sunlight, heat, cold, and other environmental factors will degrade faster than barcodes protected inside climate controlled environments. Thermal and UV light accelerate fading. Scratches obliterate lines. Soil obscures printing. Freezing and thawing can crack substrates. The conditions the barcode experiences affect longevity.
Usage frequency
A barcode that is rarely scanned will last longer than one subjected to constant scanning. The more frequently a barcode is read, the faster the print quality degrades through physical abrasion, smudging, and dirt accumulation. Rotation of less frequently used barcodes can prolong the lifespan of each code.
| Usage Level | Typical Lifespan Range |
|---|---|
| High volume retail | Weeks to months |
| Moderate volume retail/inventory | Months to low single digit years |
| Infrequent industrial | Years to decades |
Barcode symbology
All barcodes are not created equal when it comes to durability. Dimensionally stable 2D barcodes like DataMatrix ECC 200 tend to last longer than 1D varieties like UPC-A. The extra built in error correction data of 2D codes gives them greater scanning reliability as they deteriorate over time. Dense stacked symbologies resist wear better than spread out linear codes.
| Symbology | Durability Rating |
|---|---|
| DataMatrix ECC 200 | High |
| PDF417 | High |
| QR code | Moderate to High |
| Code 128 | Moderate |
| UPC-A | Low to Moderate |
When do barcodes need to be replaced?
There is no definite lifespan that dictates barcode replacement timing. enterprises. But there are some general guidelines that indicate when a barcode should be phased out or redone:
- Scan verification rates drop below acceptable levels
- Barcodes placed on reusable containers or assets degrade significantly
- A new barcode specification is adopted
- New production or inventory systems require barcode changes
- Product packaging graphics are updated
- Compliance with evolving regulations necessitate updates
Proactively monitoring barcode scan performance, and conducting visual inspections of barcode labels to check for wear, can help determine optimal replacement cycles. Barcodes critical to operations may need replacement every few months, while barcodes used more lightly could last 5-10 years or longer.
Can damaged barcodes be repaired?
In some cases, minor damage to a barcode can be repaired to extend its usable life:
- Smudges – Gently wiping with a clean lint-free cloth may remove smudges obscuring a barcode.
- Dirt – Similarly, built up dirt can sometimes be cleaned off.
- Fading – Overexposed barcodes can be temporarily rejuvenated with increased contrast using a black permanent marker.
- Scratches – Very shallow scratches may still allow successful scanning of deeper etched barcodes.
However, barcodes with more extensive damage are likely unrecoverable. Reprinting or replacing the barcode is recommended once it shows significant:
- Complete line obliteration from deep scratches
- Distortion from environmental exposure
- Loss of substrate adhesion, peeling, or delamination
- Substrate cracking or tearing
Factors in barcode lifespan
To summarize, the longevity of a particular barcode depends on these key factors:
| Factor | Influence on Lifespan |
|---|---|
| Printing quality | Higher quality printing lasts longer |
| Label substrate material | More durable materials last longer |
| Exposure to elements | Protected barcodes last longer |
| Level of handling and scanning | Less scanning and handling extends lifespan |
| Barcode symbology | 2D and stacked codes last longer than 1D |
Improving barcode lifespan
Some ways to maximize the usable life of barcodes include:
- Print barcodes at the highest quality level possible for the application
- Select durable label substrates matched to the operating environment
- Protect barcodes on assets and inventory from unnecessary exposure or abrasion
- Use rotation systems for barcodes that are scanned frequently
- Adopt symbologies like DataMatrix that resist damage and decay
The future of barcodes
Even with reasonable precautions, barcodes do gradually degrade over time. However, the underlying technology continues to evolve:
- New direct marking techniques produce extremely durable barcodes etched directly into products.
- Higher capacity symbologies like DataMatrix can encode more data at smaller sizes.
- RFID tags offer read range benefits over optical barcodes.
Barcode scanning remains a versatile, cost-effective automatic identification method. And with ongoing enhancements, barcodes are poised to continue serving key inventory and data capture roles into the foreseeable future even as new technologies emerge.
Conclusion
Barcodes themselves do not inherently expire, but they can degrade to the point of failure depending on the barcode quality, substrate, exposure, handling, and symbology. Lower quality barcodes may only last weeks or months, while well-made barcodes under ideal conditions could theoretically last for decades. Monitoring scan rates and visual condition is important to determine optimal replacement timing. With proper selection and care, barcodes provide an economical and reliable long-term automatic identification solution in many industries.