# Data Matrix

> Data Matrix is a 2D matrix barcode defined in ISO/IEC 16022, recognisable by its solid L-shaped border on two edges. It scales down further than QR — readable at a few millimetres square — which made it the standard for pharmaceutical serialisation, electronics and direct part marking.

Source: https://useqr.app/glossary/datamatrix · Last reviewed 2026-08-21 · UseQR is free forever, MIT licensed, no signup.

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## Where it beats QR

Data Matrix (the modern ECC 200 variant, ISO/IEC 16022) uses Reed–Solomon error correction
like QR, but its geometry is thriftier at the small end. Symbols run from **10 × 10 to
144 × 144** [modules](/glossary/module), plus rectangular formats, and the
[quiet zone](/glossary/quiet-zone) is only **1 module** against QR's 4. Its finder is an
L-shaped solid border on two edges with an alternating "clock track" on the other two —
cheaper in area than QR's three 7 × 7 corner squares, which is most of why a Data Matrix
holding the same short payload is physically smaller.

That thrift owns the tiny-marking world: GS1 Data Matrix on medicine packs (EU Falsified
Medicines Directive serialisation), laser-etched codes on PCBs and surgical instruments, and
dot-peened direct part marks in aerospace. Capacity tops out at **3,116 digits / 2,335
alphanumeric characters / 1,556 bytes** — below QR's ceilings, irrelevant at these sizes.

## Where QR beats it

Phones. Native camera apps target QR; Data Matrix support is inconsistent without a
dedicated scanning app. QR's three-corner finder also locates faster from any angle at
poster distances. For anything the public scans, use a [QR code](/glossary/qr-code); choose
Data Matrix when a regulation demands it or the mark must fit under ~5 mm. The wider
comparison lives at [QR vs Data Matrix](/docs/basics/qr-code-vs-datamatrix).

## FAQ

### What is the difference between Data Matrix and QR code?
Both are 2D matrix codes with Reed–Solomon error correction. Data Matrix is smaller for short payloads and marks well at millimetre scale; QR holds more data, scans faster from phones, and is what camera apps natively read.

### Can a phone scan a Data Matrix code?
Often, but not reliably with the built-in camera — support varies by OS and version. Industrial and pharmacy settings use dedicated 2D imagers instead.

### Why do medicines use Data Matrix instead of QR?
GS1 and the EU Falsified Medicines Directive standardised on GS1 Data Matrix for serialisation — it fits the required identifiers into the small print area of a medicine pack more efficiently than QR.

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