How to Make a Barcode Reader in Python

Abdeladim Fadheli · 5 min read · Updated may 2024 · Computer Vision · Python for Multimedia

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A barcode is a method of representing data in a visual and machine-readable form; it consists of bars and spaces. Today, we see barcodes everywhere, especially in supermarket products.

Barcodes can be read by an optical barcode scanner, but in this tutorial, we will make a script in Python that is able to read and decode barcodes, as well as a drawing where they're located in a given image.

To get started, we need to install a few libraries:

pip3 install pyzbar opencv-python

Once you have these installed, open up a new Python file and import them:

from pyzbar import pyzbar
import cv2

I have few images to test with, you can use any image you want from the internet or your own disk, but you can get my test images in this directory.

I have wrapped every functionality into a function; the first function we gonna discuss is the following:

def decode(image):
    # decodes all barcodes from an image
    decoded_objects = pyzbar.decode(image)
    for obj in decoded_objects:
        # draw the barcode
        print("detected barcode:", obj)
        image = draw_barcode(obj, image)
        # print barcode type & data
        print("Type:", obj.type)
        print("Data:", obj.data)
        print()

    return image

decode() function takes an image as a numpy array and uses pyzbar.decode() that is responsible for decoding all barcodes from a single image and returns a bunch of useful information about each barcode detected.

We then iterate over all detected barcodes, draw a rectangle around the barcode, and print the type and the data of the barcode.

To make things clear, the following is how each obj looked like if we print it:

Decoded(data=b'43770929851162', type='I25', rect=Rect(left=62, top=0, width=694, height=180), polygon=[Point(x=62, y=1), Point(x=62, y=179), Point(x=756, y=180), Point(x=756, y=0)])

So pyzbar.decode() function returns the data containing the barcode, the type of barcode, and the location points as a rectangle and a polygon.

This brings us to the next function that we used, draw_barcode():

def draw_barcode(decoded, image):
    # n_points = len(decoded.polygon)
    # for i in range(n_points):
    #     image = cv2.line(image, decoded.polygon[i], decoded.polygon[(i+1) % n_points], color=(0, 255, 0), thickness=5)
    # uncomment above and comment below if you want to draw a polygon and not a rectangle
    image = cv2.rectangle(image, (decoded.rect.left, decoded.rect.top), 
                            (decoded.rect.left + decoded.rect.width, decoded.rect.top + decoded.rect.height),
                            color=(0, 255, 0),
                            thickness=5)
    return image

This function takes the decoded object we just saw and the image itself; it draws a rectangle around the barcode using cv2.rectangle() function, or you can uncomment the other version of the function, drawing the polygon using cv2.line() function; the choice is yours. I preferred the rectangle version.

Finally, it returns the image that contains the drawn barcodes. Now, let's use these functions for our example images:

if __name__ == "__main__":
    from glob import glob

    barcodes = glob("barcode*.png")
    for barcode_file in barcodes:
        # load the image to opencv
        img = cv2.imread(barcode_file)
        # decode detected barcodes & get the image
        # that is drawn
        img = decode(img)
        # show the image
        cv2.imshow("img", img)
        cv2.waitKey(0)

In my current directory, I have barcode1.png, barcode2.png, and barcode3.png, which are all example images of a scanned barcode, I used glob so I can get all these images as a list and iterate over them.

On each file, we load it using cv2.imread() function, and use the previously discussed decode() function to decode the barcodes, and then we show the actual image.

Note that this will also detect QR codes, and that's fine, but for more accurate results, I suggest you check the dedicated tutorial for detecting and generating qr codes in Python.

When I run the script, it shows each image and prints the type and the data contained in it. Press any key, and you'll get the next image. Here is my output:

detected barcode: Decoded(data=b'0036000291452', type='EAN13', rect=Rect(left=124, top=58, width=965, height=812), polygon=[Point(x=124, y=59), Point(x=124, y=869), Point(x=621, y=870), Point(x=1089, y=870), Point(x=1089, y=58)])
Type: EAN13
Data: b'0036000291452'

detected barcode: Decoded(data=b'Wikipedia', type='CODE128', rect=Rect(left=593, top=4, width=0, height=294), polygon=[Point(x=593, y=4), Point(x=593, y=298)])
Type: CODE128
Data: b'Wikipedia'

detected barcode: Decoded(data=b'43770929851162', type='I25', rect=Rect(left=62, top=0, width=694, height=180), polygon=[Point(x=62, y=1), Point(x=62, y=179), Point(x=756, y=180), Point(x=756, y=0)])
Type: I25
Data: b'43770929851162'

Here is the last image that is shown:

Barcode detected using Python

Conclusion

That is awesome; now you have a great tool to make your own barcode scanner in Python. I know you all want to read directly from the camera, as a result, I have prepared the code that reads from the camera and detects barcodes in a live manner, check it here!

You can also add some sort of a beep when each barcode is detected, just like in supermarkets; check the tutorial for playing sounds that may help you accomplish that.

For more detailed information, I invite you to check pyzbar documentation.

Learn also: How to Generate and Read QR Code in Python.

Happy Coding ♥

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