Check PDF417 barcode capacity

Understand PDF417 rows, capacity, and error correction.

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ToolPDF417 Info
Input
Output
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How it works

PDF417 arranges codewords into stacked rows with start/stop patterns, row indicators, and selectable Reed–Solomon error correction. The two-dimensional symbol can carry substantially more data than a linear barcode.

  • Stacked rows increase capacity while error correction trades space for recovery.

Worked example

ID Card Data
Analyze PDF417 encoding for ID card data
Input
											John Doe, DOB: 1990-01-15, ID: 123456789
Output
												PDF417 Barcode
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PDF417 is a stacked linear barcode format used in:
  - ID cards and driver's licenses
  - Airline boarding passes
  - Shipping labels
  - Government documents

Input text:
  "John Doe, DOB: 1990-01-15, ID: 123456789"
  Length: 40 characters

Encoding details:
  Mode: Text
  Error correction level: Auto (level 2-5 based on data size)
  Estimated codewords: ~48

Note: Full PDF417 encoding requires complex codeword calculation.
For production use, consider a dedicated barcode library.

When to use this

Boarding passes, government credentials, and logistics labels use PDF417.

Edge cases

  • Rows must remain aligned for codeword reconstruction.
  • Higher error correction reduces available data capacity.
  • A cropped stop pattern can prevent row detection even when modules remain.

References