Interleaved 2 of 5 - Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK

What is a Interleaved 2 of 5?

Based on the Industrial 2 of 5 symbol, the Interleaved 2 of 5 is a higher-density barcode. The information in the Interleaved 2 of 5 is encoded in the spaces and bars, unlike the Industrial 2 of 5 symbol that can only encode information in the width of the bars. Interleaved 2 of 5 is sometimes also called the ITF as it forms the basis of the ITF-14 symbology, which is extensively used in transport and shipping logistics.

Each data character Interleaved 2 of 5 symbol is represented by five elements, either five spaces or five bars- two are wide, and three are narrow. The name 'interleaved' comes from the first numeric data that is encoded in the first five bars, while the second numeric data is encoded in the first five spaces that separate the first five bars. Hence, the first five spaces and bars actually encode two characters. This way, the Interleaved 2 of 5 symbol achieves a relatively higher density, but the users must always encode an even number of numeric values.

Here is a typical Interleaved 2 of 5 barcode:

As you can see, the above barcode is physically smaller than Industrial 2 of 5:

Where is a Interleaved 2 of 5 used?

As it can withstand high printing tolerances, Interleaved 2 of 5 is suitable for printing on corrugated cardboard. Hence, it is often referred to as the packing barcode. It is also used in warehousing, label packaging, and distribution.

Industry

• Packaging
• Logistics

How could Dynamsoft help you with Interleaved 2 of 5?

Dynamsoft barcode reader enables you to efficiently embed high-speed and reliable barcode reading functionality in your web, desktop or mobile application using just a few lines of code.

Download the free trial SDK, explore our helpful resource center including sample codes, tutorials, guides and more to get started.

Comparison of Two-Out-of-Five Barcode Variants

All three symbologies belong to the two-out-of-five barcode family, meaning each digit is represented using five total encoding units (either bars, spaces, or a combination of both).

• Industrial 2 of 5 encodes each digit using five bars.
• Interleaved 2 of 5 encodes digits in pairs, with the first digit represented by five bars and the second by five spaces.
• Matrix 2 of 5 encodes each digit using five elements, which may include both bars and spaces in a continuous (non-interleaved) pattern.

Feature	Industrial 2 of 5	Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF)	Matrix 2 of 5
Encoding Width	Two-width (wide and narrow)	Two-width (wide and narrow)	Two-width (wide and narrow)
Encoding Method	Encodes data only with black bars	Digits are encoded in pairs; the first digit is encoded in the five bars (black lines), while the second digit is encoded in the five spaces (white lines) interleaved with them.	Encodes data using both black bars and white spaces in a continuous mode (not interleaved).
Wide Bar/Space Rule	Two out of every five bars are wide	Two out of every five bars or spaces are wide	Two out of every five bars or spaces are wide
Length	Variable length	Variable length (only even numbers of digits can be encoded; odd numbers typically require a leading zero)	Variable length
Density	Low density	High density	Moderate density
Character Set	Digits (0-9)	Digits (0-9)	Digits (0-9)
Check Character	Not typically used	Optional checking character	Optional checking character
Variants	Used in USPS (POSTNET, PLANET), and Code 39	ITF-14 (widely used for shipping and logistics)	Datalogic 2 of 5