PDF417 Barcode Generator — Stacked 2D Document Barcode
Create stacked PDF417 symbols for boarding passes, identification cards, and high-capacity documentation.
Barcode Generator
Preview ↓Stacked 2D linear symbology with high capacity used on boarding passes and identification cards.
SVG is recommended for physical printing. PNG is ready for digital usage.
Generated entirely in your browser without network requests. Renders standard symbology geometry locally — creating a barcode image does not issue, register, or license a GS1 identifier.
How to Use
- Enter your high-capacity payload, transportation manifest, or identification data into the field.
- The live preview instantly stacks and renders the compliant PDF417 symbol.
- Adjust module scale, quiet zone padding, or colors under Appearance Settings if needed.
- Click 'Download SVG' for vector artwork suitable for thermal card printers or 'Download PNG' for digital records.
About This Format
PDF417 (Portable Data File 417) is a stacked, two-dimensional (2D) multi-row barcode symbology standardized under ISO/IEC 15438. Invented in 1991, PDF417 stacks multiple linear barcode rows vertically. Each codeword is exactly 17 modules wide and composed of 4 bars and 4 spaces (hence “417”). With the ability to encode up to 1,850 alphanumeric characters or 1.1 kilobytes of raw data alongside robust Reed-Solomon error correction, PDF417 is the global standard for airline boarding passes (IATA BCBP), North American driver licenses (AAMVA DL/ID), and customs paper documentation.
Validation & Technical Constraints
- High capacity: supports up to 1,850 text characters or 2,710 numeric digits.
- Built-in Reed-Solomon error correction restores damaged, scuffed, or partially torn printed cards.
- Generates clean stacked multi-row geometry with start, stop, and row indicator columns.
Examples
Airline Boarding Pass (IATA BCBP)
M1DOE/JOHN E123456 JFKLAXAA 0100 120Y012A0001 100
AAMVA Driver License Credential
IDUSA1234567891<DOE<<JOHN<MICHAEL<<<<
High-Capacity Payload Sample
PDF417-HIGH-CAPACITY-PAYLOAD-SAMPLE
Frequently Asked Questions
PDF stands for 'Portable Data File', emphasizing its ability to function as a self-contained database on paper or plastic. The number '417' reflects its pattern structure: each codeword is 17 modules wide and contains exactly 4 bars and 4 spaces.
Because of its high data density and independence from live network connectivity. Airline gates and security checkpoints can decode passenger names, seat numbers, flight legs, and biometric checksums instantly even when internet connections are offline.
PDF417 is a stacked linear symbology with an elongated rectangular geometry, perfectly fitting the aspect ratio of driver licenses, identification cards, and paper ticket strips. QR Codes and Data Matrix are square matrix symbologies optimized for compact mobile camera capture.