Encoding barcodes

Encoding starts with a payload and ends with a BitMatrix. The matrix contains one bit per barcode module: a set bit is dark ink and an unset bit is the light background. It has no quiet zone; choose that later in a renderer.

For the smallest application-facing surface, use encode() from the package root. For format-specific work, import the named encoder from the matching public subpath.

The general encoder

encode(text: string | number, options?: EncodeOptions): BitMatrix

The exported declaration spells the options out inline. These are the fields currently accepted by the root facade:

Option	Values	Used by
format	A registry id such as qr, datamatrix, code128 or pdf417	Selects the symbology. Default: qr.
ecc	L, M, Q, H	QR Code error correction.
version	QR version 1–40	QR Code, when a fixed version is needed.
checkDigit	boolean	Optional check digits for supported linear writers.
fullAscii	boolean	Code 39 extended character mapping.
gs1	boolean	Emits a leading FNC1 for GS1-128-compatible Code 128 output.
layers	number	Forces Aztec layer selection.
compact	boolean	Forces the Aztec Compact or Full shape.
eccPercent	number	Requested Aztec error-correction percentage.
eccLevel	0–8	PDF417 error-correction level.
columns	1–30	PDF417 column count.
rows	3–90	PDF417 row count.
rowHeight	number	PDF417 row height in modules.
compaction	auto, text, byte, numeric	PDF417 compaction preference.
eci	number	MicroPDF417 byte-compaction ECI assignment; the public facade documents 3 and 26.
aspectRatio	number	Preferred MicroPDF417 aspect ratio.
canvas	Object	Canvas reservation for the Sythos Canvas QR profile.

Format-specific options are not silently universal. For example, ecc is a QR setting and columns is a PDF417 setting. Invalid payloads, unsupported combinations and values that do not fit are rejected with an encoding error.

Current format ids

Use these ids with the root encoder. The registry in the running package is the final authority if a future release changes a capability flag:

Kind	Format ids
1D	ean13, ean8, upca, isbn, upce, code128, gs1128, code39, code93, itf, itf14, codabar, code11, msi, pharmacode
Supplements	ean2, ean5
2D	qr, datamatrix, aztec, aztecrune, pdf417, compactpdf417, micropdf417, microqr, rmqr, frameqr
GS1	gs1databar14

The name alone does not mean “readable in every image”. Check listFormats() at runtime; for example, Pharmacode is currently writable but not enabled in the generic reader, while EAN-2 and EAN-5 are parent-bound add-ons.

A root-level example

import {
  encode,
  toSVGDataURI,
} from '@sythos/js_barcode_universal';

const matrix = encode('https://www.sythos.net/', {
  format: 'qr',
  ecc: 'H',
});

const dataUri = toSVGDataURI(matrix, {
  scale: 8,
  margin: 4,
  dark: '#10131a',
  light: '#ffffff',
});

console.log(matrix.width, matrix.height);
console.log(dataUri.startsWith('data:image/svg+xml'));
// true

The QR encoder chooses the smallest version that fits unless version is forced. A forced version can make a payload fail even when automatic selection would succeed. Error correction consumes capacity too, so H is more robust but usually needs a larger symbol than L.

Direct format encoders

The same matrix contract is available without the general dispatcher:

import { encodeDataMatrix } from '@sythos/js_barcode_universal/datamatrix';
import { encodeQR } from '@sythos/js_barcode_universal/qr';
import { encodeCode128 } from '@sythos/js_barcode_universal/oned';

const qr = encodeQR('direct QR', { ecc: 'M' });
const dataMatrix = encodeDataMatrix('direct Data Matrix');
const linear = encodeCode128('ABC-123456');

console.log(qr.width === qr.height); // true
console.log(dataMatrix.width > 0);   // true
console.log(linear.height);          // 1: render it with barHeight later

Useful direct families include:

Import	Representative functions
@sythos/js_barcode_universal/oned	encodeEAN13, encodeCode128, encodeCode39, encodeITF14, encodeMSI, encodePharmacode, add-on and GS1 helpers
@sythos/js_barcode_universal/qr	encodeQR
@sythos/js_barcode_universal/datamatrix	encodeDataMatrix, encodeDataMatrixCodewords
@sythos/js_barcode_universal/aztec	encodeAztec
@sythos/js_barcode_universal/aztecrune	encodeAztecRune
@sythos/js_barcode_universal/pdf417	encodePDF417 and compaction helpers
@sythos/js_barcode_universal/compactpdf417	encodeCompactPDF417
@sythos/js_barcode_universal/micropdf417	encodeMicroPDF417
@sythos/js_barcode_universal/microqr	encodeMicroQR
@sythos/js_barcode_universal/rmqr	encodeRMQR
@sythos/js_barcode_universal/frameqr	encodeFrameQR

These direct functions expose format-specific signatures. Their declarations are the best reference for special payload types and options; the subpath map is in Subpath exports.

Linear symbols and supplements

Linear encoders return a one-module-tall matrix. This is intentional: the renderer decides the physical bar height. For example:

import {
  encodeEAN13WithAddon,
  encodeCode128,
} from '@sythos/js_barcode_universal/oned';
import { toImageData } from '@sythos/js_barcode_universal';

const ean = encodeEAN13WithAddon('5901234123457', '05');
const code128 = encodeCode128('0101234567890128', { gs1: true });

const retailImage = toImageData(ean, { scale: 4, margin: 9, barHeight: 96 });
const shippingImage = toImageData(code128, { scale: 3, margin: 10, barHeight: 72 });

console.log(retailImage.width, shippingImage.height);

Check digits are validated or generated according to the selected writer’s contract. Do not treat a generated symbol as a proof that a product number is assigned to your organisation; the SDK only handles the encoding rules.

Payload limits are real limits

Every symbology has finite capacity. QR version, PDF417 rows/columns, MicroPDF417 variants, Micro QR versions and rMQR sizes all constrain the payload. A payload that does not fit must fail rather than be truncated. Bytes are not the same as Unicode characters for byte-oriented formats, so test the actual input and selected options.

Keep render dimensions bounded by the application. scale, margin and barHeight become pixel allocations; do not pass untrusted values straight from a request or form. The SDK applies its own validation, but an application should still enforce a practical output budget before calling a renderer.