A stacked 2D barcode capable of encoding large amounts of data, commonly used for ID cards, boarding passes, and shipping labels.
PDF417 is a stacked linear barcode that looks like a small rectangle filled with a complex pattern. The "417" in its name refers to the pattern structure: each codeword is 17 modules long, and each module is 1 of 4 possible bar widths. PDF417 can encode far more data than traditional barcodes - enough for an entire document or detailed ID information. You've likely seen PDF417 on your driver's license, airline boarding pass, or shipping labels.
PDF417 was invented in 1991 by Ynjiun Wang at Symbol Technologies. It was one of the first 2D barcodes and was designed to encode large amounts of data in a format that could be read by modified linear scanners. The format was quickly adopted for ID cards when the AAMVA (American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators) standardized it for driver's licenses in 2000. Airlines adopted it for boarding passes in 2005 as part of the IATA BCBP (Bar Coded Boarding Pass) standard. Today, PDF417 is used worldwide for identification and transportation documents.
| Symbology Type | 2D Stacked Linear |
| Character Set | Full ASCII (256 characters) |
| Data Capacity | 1,850 text / 2,710 numeric / 1,108 bytes |
| Error Correction | Reed-Solomon (configurable 0-8 levels) |
| Rows | 3 to 90 rows |
| Columns | 1 to 30 data columns |
| Aspect Ratio | Configurable (typically 3:1) |
| Quiet Zone | 2 modules on all sides |
AAMVA standard requires PDF417 on the back of US and Canadian driver's licenses, encoding name, address, DOB, and more.
IATA BCBP standard uses PDF417 for mobile and printed boarding passes worldwide.
Military IDs, government employee badges, and other secure credentials.
FedEx, UPS, and postal services use PDF417 for detailed package information.
Concerts, sports events, and venues use PDF417 for ticket validation.
PDF417 can encode all the license information (name, address, DOB, license number, restrictions, etc.) in a format that can be quickly scanned by law enforcement. The AAMVA standardized this format so all US and Canadian licenses use the same encoding.
Yes, most smartphones can scan PDF417 with the camera app or a barcode scanning app. However, PDF417 wasn't optimized for smartphone scanning like QR codes, so scanning can be less reliable, especially with poor lighting or at angles.
MicroPDF417 is a smaller version designed for space-constrained applications. It has the same structure but supports fewer rows and columns, resulting in lower data capacity. It's used when PDF417 would be too large.
Airlines adopted PDF417 in 2005 because it could encode all necessary flight and passenger information, works with existing scanning infrastructure, and could be printed on paper or displayed on phones. The IATA BCBP standard ensures global compatibility.
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