What is the difference between a Magstripe and a Barcode?

Barcodes and magstripes are very similar in that they both encode data and both are mechanisms for embedding a number that references a record in a database on a software system.

Barcodes:

• A form of visual storage where information is stored in parallel lines of varying widths.
• A barcode scanner decodes these lines into a numerical code corresponding to a database record.
• Character capacity depends on the type:
  • Barcode 39: Up to 39 alphanumeric characters.
  • Barcode 128: Up to 128 alphanumeric characters.
  • UPCA: Up to 12 numeric characters.
• Requires a barcode scanner to be read.

Magnetic Stripes:

• Contain a thin black stripe (magstripe) with very small magnetic particles held in a film.
• These tiny magnets are used to encode a unique serial number.
• Read by a magnetic ID card reader.
• Can contain three tracks of information.