Technical Specifications
- Standard
- ISO/IEC 24778
- Finder Pattern
- Central concentric square bullseye target pattern
- Quiet Zone
- The standard permits a 0-module quiet zone; leave practical separation where possible and test the final layout
- Capacity
- Up to 3,832 numeric digits or 3,067 alphanumeric characters
Standard Industry Use Cases
- Airline IATA mobile boarding passes on smartphones
- European rail and transit e-tickets (Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, SNCF)
- Vehicle registration documents and tax discs
- Hospital patient wristband tracking
Key Benefits of Aztec Code
Compact Layout Option
The standard permits a zero-module quiet zone, but practical layouts should leave separation where possible and be tested with the intended scanners.
Fast Center-Out Bullseye Lock
Area imager scanners locate the central concentric square instantly regardless of orientation.
Scalable Error Correction
User-selectable Reed-Solomon recovery from 5% up to 95% damaged data area.
What Code Do I Need for My Product? (Customer Decision Guide)
Choosing the right barcode format depends on where your product is sold, the packaging substrate, and scanner infrastructure:
Issuing airline boarding passes or train tickets?
Aztec Code is one of the three 2D codes IATA's boarding-pass standard allows on mobile boarding passes, alongside Data Matrix and QR Code.
Displaying codes on compact smartphone screens?
Because Aztec requires no quiet zone margin around its perimeter, it maximizes scannable area on small smartphone displays.
Aztec Code Implementation Rules
- Aztec Code is in the public domain (ISO/IEC 24778) and free of all patent restrictions.
- Requires 2D camera imagers; 1D laser scanners cannot read Aztec symbols.
- Avoid placing graphic borders or icons over the central bullseye finder pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do transit authorities prefer Aztec codes over QR codes?
The Aztec standard permits a zero-module quiet zone, which can help in tight layouts. Leave practical separation where possible and test the final printed or on-screen symbol with the scanners you expect to use.