Barcode scanning
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With ML Kit's barcode scanning API, you can read data encoded using most standard barcode formats. Barcode scanning happens on the device, and doesn't require a network connection.
Barcodes are a convenient way to pass information from the real world to your app. In particular, when using 2D formats such as QR code, you can encode structured data such as contact information or WiFi network credentials. Because ML Kit can automatically recognize and parse this data, your app can respond intelligently when a user scans a barcode.
For users who don't require custom UI, we recommend using the Google code scanner. The code scanner API uses the same inference model as the standard Barcode scanning API, but returns only the most centralized barcode for a faster and more consistent experience. Google code scanner is also safer and permission-less, and does not require camera-related implementation or permissions.
iOS Android Google code scanner
Key capabilities
- Reads most standard formats
- Linear formats: Codabar, Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, EAN-8, EAN-13, ITF, UPC-A, UPC-E
- 2D formats: Aztec, Data Matrix, PDF417, QR Code
- Automatic format detection
- Scan for all supported barcode formats at once without having to specify the format you're looking for, or boost scanning speed by restricting the detector to only the formats you're interested in.
- Extracts structured data
- Structured data that's stored using one of the supported 2D formats is automatically parsed. Supported information types include URLs, contact information, calendar events, email addresses, phone numbers, SMS message prompts, ISBNs, WiFi connection information, geographic location, and AAMVA-standard driver information.
- Works with any orientation
- Barcodes are recognized and scanned regardless of their orientation: right-side-up, upside-down, or sideways.
- Runs on the device
- Barcode scanning is performed completely on the device, and doesn't require a network connection.
Note that this API does not recognize barcodes in these forms:
- 1D Barcodes with only one character
- Barcodes in ITF format with fewer than six characters, and this format is known to be flaky due to absence of checksum
- Barcodes encoded with FNC2, FNC3 or FNC4
- QR codes generated in the ECI mode
This API recognizes no more than 10 barcodes per API call.
Example results
 | | Result |
|---|
| Corners | (49,125), (172,125), (172,160), (49,160) | | Raw value | 2404105001722 | |
 | | Result |
|---|
| Corners | (87,87) (612,87) (612,612) (87,612) | | Raw value | WIFI:S:SB1Guest;P:12345;T:WEP;; | | WiFi information | | SSID | SB1Guest | | Password | 12345 | | Type | WEP | | |
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Last updated 2025-08-14 UTC.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-14 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eML Kit's Barcode Scanning API reads data from most standard barcode formats, including linear and 2D formats, without needing an internet connection.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eIt automatically detects and parses structured data like contact info, WiFi credentials, and more from supported 2D formats, enabling intelligent app responses.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eThe API works offline, recognizing barcodes in any orientation, and the Google Code Scanner offers a faster, safer, and permissionless option for basic scanning needs.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eWhile it supports a wide range of formats and data types, the API has limitations regarding certain 1D barcodes, ITF formats, and QR codes with specific encodings, recognizing a maximum of 10 barcodes per call.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["ML Kit's barcode scanning API reads data from most standard barcode formats on the device without needing a network connection. It automatically detects and parses structured data from 2D formats like QR codes, recognizing information such as URLs, contact details, and WiFi credentials. The API supports various linear and 2D formats, works with any barcode orientation, and offers a Google code scanner option for a faster, safer, permission-less experience. It does not recognize some formats including some 1D and ITF barcodes.\n"],null,["With ML Kit's barcode scanning API, you can read data encoded using most\nstandard barcode formats. Barcode scanning happens on the device, and doesn't\nrequire a network connection.\n\nBarcodes are a convenient way to pass information from the real world to your\napp. In particular, when using 2D formats such as QR code, you can encode\nstructured data such as contact information or WiFi network credentials. Because\nML Kit can automatically recognize and parse this data, your app can respond\nintelligently when a user scans a barcode.\n\nFor users who don't require custom UI, we recommend using the\n[Google code scanner](/ml-kit/vision/barcode-scanning/code-scanner). The code\nscanner API uses the same inference model as the standard Barcode scanning API,\nbut returns only the most centralized barcode for a faster and more consistent\nexperience. Google code scanner is also safer and permission-less, and does not\nrequire camera-related implementation or permissions.\n\n[iOS](/ml-kit/vision/barcode-scanning/ios)\n[Android](/ml-kit/vision/barcode-scanning/android)\n[Google code scanner](/ml-kit/vision/barcode-scanning/code-scanner)\n\nKey capabilities\n\nReads most standard formats\n:\n - Linear formats: Codabar, Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, EAN-8, EAN-13, ITF, UPC-A, UPC-E\n - 2D formats: Aztec, Data Matrix, PDF417, QR Code\n\nAutomatic format detection\n: Scan for all supported barcode formats at once without having to specify\n the format you're looking for, or boost scanning speed by restricting the\n detector to only the formats you're interested in.\n\nExtracts structured data\n: Structured data that's stored using one of the supported 2D formats is\n automatically parsed. Supported information types include URLs,\n contact information, calendar events, email addresses, phone\n numbers, SMS message prompts, ISBNs, WiFi connection information,\n geographic location, and AAMVA-standard driver information.\n\nWorks with any orientation\n: Barcodes are recognized and scanned regardless of their orientation:\n right-side-up, upside-down, or sideways.\n\nRuns on the device\n: Barcode scanning is performed completely on the device, and doesn't\n require a network connection.\n\nNote that this API does not recognize barcodes in these forms:\n\n- 1D Barcodes with only one character\n- Barcodes in ITF format with fewer than six characters, and this format is known to be flaky due to absence of checksum\n- Barcodes encoded with FNC2, FNC3 or FNC4\n- QR codes generated in the ECI mode\n\nThis API recognizes no more than 10 barcodes per API call.\n\nExample results\n\n|---|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|\n| | | Result || |---------------|------------------------------------------| | **Corners** | (49,125), (172,125), (172,160), (49,160) | | **Raw value** | 2404105001722 | |\n\n|---|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|\n| | | Result || |----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **Corners** | (87,87) (612,87) (612,612) (87,612) | | **Raw value** | `WIFI:S:SB1Guest;P:12345;T:WEP;;` | | **WiFi information** | |--------------|----------| | **SSID** | SB1Guest | | **Password** | 12345 | | **Type** | WEP | | |"]]
