What is a Code-93 Full ASCII barcode?
Code 93 Full ASCII, or extended Code 93, encodes all 128 ASCII characters using the Code 93 symbology. It is the Code 93 counterpart of Code 39 Full ASCII and is used when a Code 93 system needs lowercase letters or extra symbols.
Code 93 has four dedicated shift characters that do not appear in the human-readable text. Each extended character is written as one of these shifts plus a regular character. Because the shifts are unique symbols rather than ordinary characters like + or %, a reader cannot confuse them with normal data, which is an advantage over Code 39 Full ASCII.
The two Code 93 check characters are added by default. For new systems, Code 128 holds the full ASCII set more compactly and is supported more widely.
What data can Code-93 Full ASCII hold?
Any of the 128 ASCII characters, including lowercase letters, punctuation and spaces. Non-ASCII characters such as accented letters are not allowed. The check characters are on by default.
Recommended size
Keep a quiet zone of at least 10 times the narrowest bar on each side. Each extended character takes two symbols, so long lowercase text gets wide quickly; keep data short where you can.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Many scanners need Code 93 extended or Full ASCII mode turned on to translate the shift pairs. Without it, they may show the wrong characters or not read the code at all.
Code 93 is more compact and uses dedicated shift characters plus two check characters, so it is shorter and more reliable. Use Code 39 Full ASCII only if your system reads Code 39 alone.
No. They are different symbologies. Code 128 also encodes all ASCII characters and is the more common choice today, so prefer it when your system allows.