What PDF417 is
PDF417 is a stacked linear 2D symbology standardized as ISO/IEC 15438, capable of encoding over a thousand bytes across multiple rows of a portable data file.
Generate it now
Type any text or data now -- the two-column layout adjusts its row count automatically as your payload grows.
Valid input
PDF417 encodes text and binary data with Reed-Solomon error correction; bwip-js rejects data exceeding the configured row/column capacity.
Key options
Supported options include columns, rows, and eclevel (error-correction level).
Output and printing
Export SVG for forms, tickets, and IDs; keep quiet zones on all sides for reliable 2D scanning.
Common uses
PDF417 is used for high-capacity labels, tickets, forms, and offline data such as US driver's licenses (AAMVA-compliant back-of-card barcodes).
Example
The seeded example, "This is PDF417", renders with a fixed 2-column layout ("columns": 2) -- switch to a longer payload and watch the row count grow to fit it while the column count you set stays put.
Size guidance
PDF417 requires a quiet zone on all four sides, and its stacked-row structure means aspect ratio affects readability.
Troubleshooting
If data does not fit, increase columns/rows or reduce eclevel slightly, trading some error tolerance for capacity.
Related formats
Related formats: Compact PDF417, MicroPDF417, and Data Matrix.
FAQ
What's the real range for eclevel?
0 through 8 -- level 8 is PDF417's actual maximum, not 6; each step roughly doubles the error-correction codewords at the cost of usable data capacity.