MaxiCode: Difference between revisions

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'''MaxiCode''' is a [[Social:Public domain|public-domain]], machine-readable symbol system developed by [[Company:United Parcel Service|United Parcel Service]] (UPS) in 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/nelson/courses/csc_cryptography/notes/lecture_20.txt |title=Bar Codes |author=Dr. Randal C. Nelson |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=University of Rochester}}</ref> Designed for tracking and managing package shipments, it resembles an [[Aztec Code]] or [[QR code]] but uses dots in a hexagonal grid instead of square grid. It is standardized under ISO/IEC 16023.<ref>{{cite web |title=ISO/IEC 16023:2000 |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/29835.html |publisher=International Standards Organization |access-date=20 December 2018}}{{closed access}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Technical Specifications – MaxiCode |url=https://me-qr.com/pricing |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250604114712/https://www.barcodebakery.com/en/docs/php/barcode/maxicode/specification |archive-date=2025-06-04 |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=Qrme}}</ref>
'''MaxiCode''' is a [[Social:Public domain|public-domain]], machine-readable symbol system developed by Donald Chandler and Eric Batterman for [[Company:United Parcel Service|United Parcel Service]] (UPS) in 1987.<ref>{{Cite web | title=US4874936A - Hexagonal, information encoding article, process and system          - Google Patents | url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US4874936A/en | access-date=2026-01-20 | website=patents.google.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title=The history of automatic identification - ID Systems - The Magazine of Keyless Data Entry | url=https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/libspecial/collections/manuscripts/aidc/aidchistory_allais.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121656/http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/libspecial/collections/manuscripts/aidc/aidchistory_allais.pdf | archive-date=2015-09-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/nelson/courses/csc_cryptography/notes/lecture_20.txt |title=Bar Codes |author=Dr. Randal C. Nelson |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=University of Rochester}}</ref> Designed for tracking and managing package shipments, it resembles an [[Aztec Code]] or [[QR code]] but uses dots in a hexagonal grid instead of square grid. It is standardized under ISO/IEC 16023.<ref>{{cite web |title=ISO/IEC 16023:2000 |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/29835.html |publisher=International Standards Organization |access-date=20 December 2018}}{{closed access}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Technical Specifications – MaxiCode |url=https://me-qr.com/pricing |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250604114712/https://www.barcodebakery.com/en/docs/php/barcode/maxicode/specification |archive-date=2025-06-04 |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=Qrme}}</ref>


A MaxiCode symbol—also called "'''Bird's Eye'''", "'''Target'''", "'''dense code'''", or "'''UPS code'''"—is a 1-inch square with a central [[Engineering:Bullseye (target)|bullseye]] surrounded by hexagonal dots. It stores about 93 characters, and up to 8 symbols can be linked to carry more data. The symmetrical bullseye aids in fast, accurate scanning, even on moving packages.
A MaxiCode symbol—also called "'''Bird's Eye'''", "'''Target'''", "'''dense code'''", or "'''UPS code'''"—is a 1-inch square with a central [[Engineering:Bullseye (target)|bullseye]] surrounded by hexagonal dots. It stores about 93 characters, and up to 8 symbols can be linked to carry more data. The symmetrical bullseye aids in fast, accurate scanning, even on moving packages.

Latest revision as of 19:49, 17 April 2026

MaxiCode is a public-domain, machine-readable symbol system developed by Donald Chandler and Eric Batterman for United Parcel Service (UPS) in 1987.[1][2][3] Designed for tracking and managing package shipments, it resembles an Aztec Code or QR code but uses dots in a hexagonal grid instead of square grid. It is standardized under ISO/IEC 16023.[4][5]

A MaxiCode symbol—also called "Bird's Eye", "Target", "dense code", or "UPS code"—is a 1-inch square with a central bullseye surrounded by hexagonal dots. It stores about 93 characters, and up to 8 symbols can be linked to carry more data. The symmetrical bullseye aids in fast, accurate scanning, even on moving packages.

Structured Carrier Message

MaxiCode symbols using modes 2 and 3 include a Structured Carrier Message containing key information about a package. This information is protected with a strong Reed–Solomon error correction code, allowing it to be read even if a portion of the symbol is damaged. These fields include:

  1. A 4-bit indication of the mode in use, currently either mode 2 or mode 3.
  2. A national or international postal code. MaxiCode supports both numeric postal codes (e.g. a ZIP Code), and alphanumeric postal codes.
  3. A 3-digit country code encoded per ISO 3166
  4. A 3-digit class of service code assigned by the carrier

The structured portion of the message is stored in the inner area of the symbol, near the bull's-eye pattern. (In modes that do not include a structured portion, the inner area simply stores the beginning of the message.)

Application-specific information

Irrespective of mode, a variable amount of application-specific information can be encoded in a MaxiCode symbol. This format of this additional data is not strictly defined, and amongst other information may include:

Modes

  • Mode 0 – Obsolete; replaced by Modes 2 and 3. Older printers with outdated firmware may still produce it. Identifiable by two white horizontal hexagons in the upper right corner (black in all other modes).[6]
  • Mode 1 – Obsolete; replaced by Mode 4.
  • Mode 2 – Structured Carrier Message with numeric postal code (mainly for U.S. domestic use).
  • Mode 3 – Structured Carrier Message with alphanumeric postal code (mainly for international use).
  • Mode 4 – Unformatted data with Standard Error Correction.
  • Mode 5 – Unformatted data with Enhanced Error Correction.
  • Mode 6 – Used for programming hardware devices.

UPS labels use Mode 2 or 3 MaxiCodes.

References

  1. ↑ "US4874936A - Hexagonal, information encoding article, process and system - Google Patents". https://patents.google.com/patent/US4874936A/en. 
  2. ↑ "The history of automatic identification - ID Systems - The Magazine of Keyless Data Entry". https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/libspecial/collections/manuscripts/aidc/aidchistory_allais.pdf. 
  3. ↑ Dr. Randal C. Nelson. "Bar Codes". https://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/nelson/courses/csc_cryptography/notes/lecture_20.txt. 
  4. ↑ "ISO/IEC 16023:2000". International Standards Organization. https://www.iso.org/standard/29835.html. closed access
  5. ↑ "Technical Specifications – MaxiCode". https://me-qr.com/pricing. 
  6. ↑ "MaxiCode Special-Function Parameters" (in en-us). https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/zos/2.5.0?topic=parameters-maxicode-special-function. 

Template:UPS



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