Check the spec
Capacity, error correction and shape controls for this symbology are listed above.
Free tools · Barcodes
Generate DotCode symbols that scan.
High-speed dot matrix symbology for industrial inkjet and laser marking. Configure DotCode below — ASCII/Latin-1 characters up to ~366 characters. Disconnected module grid. Every symbol is decoded again on your device before export.
2D code generator
Type text, get a symbol.
Runs locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded; the field clears after ten idle minutes.
Advanced (error correction, shape, GS1)
Style (colors, frame, caption, export size)
DotCode stays black on white until this output path has an independent color/raster qualification.
Outer frame
Frame and caption ship in the SVG download; PNG exports the bare symbol.
Specification
| Standards | AIM ISS DotCode / ISO/IEC 21471 |
|---|---|
| Character set | ASCII/Latin-1 characters up to ~366 characters. Disconnected module grid. |
| Lengths | Short text or serial data |
| Check digits | Error correction fixed by the symbology or QR-studio owned. |
| Quiet zone | Specification quiet zone enforced in preview and export (2 modules minimum for matrix symbols). |
| Geometry | Specialty & Industrial 2D; engine selects the smallest fitting symbol unless pinned. |
| Capacity | Up to ~366 characters here; the engine enforces exact capacity. |
Usage
DotCode serves specialty parcel, healthcare and industrial marking: use it where its fixed geometry and carrier rules already govern the workflow.
- DotCode on parcels and healthcare packaging per carrier rules
- DotCode on industrial carriers with pinned versions and masks
- DotCode proofs verified locally before any export unlocks
Shape
Pros
- DotCode scans on modern phone and industrial imagers.
- Every symbol is read back locally before preview or download.
- SVG export stays sharp for print; PNG covers quick sharing.
- Only the controls this symbology accepts are shown.
Cons
- DotCode needs calm quiet zones — nearby text breaks detection.
- Glare, blur and low contrast are the usual reasons a symbol will not read.
- Screenshots prove scannability, not print quality grading.
- Custom colors stay locked until contrast and tinted re-decode pass.
Form requirements
- Enter Short text or serial data.
- ASCII/Latin-1 characters up to ~366 characters. Disconnected module grid.
- Downloads stay locked until the local read-back reproduces the payload.
Sources
- ISO/IEC 21471 (ISO)
Related formats
Keep exploring.
How it works
Three steps, all on your device.
The same engine that reads 2D codes writes them — every symbol is decoded again before you see it.
Tune and style
Only the controls this symbology accepts are shown; every symbol is read back to prove it scans.
Download and print
Take a resolution-independent SVG or a PNG at your chosen module size. Nothing is uploaded.
Questions
DotCode Generator & Specs, answered.
If you manage servers by hand, see the engineering services behind this tools series.
What can I encode in DotCode?
ASCII/Latin-1 characters up to ~366 characters. Disconnected module grid. Example input is prefilled when the page loads.
How does DotCode stay scannable?
Error correction fixed by the symbology or QR-studio owned. Keep the quiet zone calm, use black-on-white for print, and export SVG for anything that gets resized.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. Encoding and verification run entirely in your browser — the page makes no network requests with your data, stores nothing, and wipes the field after ten idle minutes.
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