What is the difference between a Magstripe and a Barcode? (Q&A)
Question: What is the difference between a Magstripe and a Barcode?
Answer: 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 are a form of visual storage. Information is stored within a series of parallel lines of varying widths. A barcode scanner can decode these lines into a numerical code, which corresponds with a product or entry in the company’s database. The amount of characters they contain depends on the barcode. Barcode 39 and 128 can hold up 39 or 128 alphanumeric characters (respectively). While UPCA can hold only 12 numeric characters. A barcode scanner is needed to read a barcode.
- Magnetic stripes contain a thin black stripe known as a magstripe. The magstripe contains very small magnetic particles held within a film. These tiny magnets are used to encode a unique serial number, which is read by a magnetic ID card reader. Magstripes can contain three tracks of information.