Imagine that your personal computer has suddenly stopped functioning. So, what do you do? You call tech support - but instead of telling you to take it to your local big-box computer retailer, they want you to fix it yourself. You are told that there is a serial number somewhere on the case that they need to give you detailed instructions. You look, and look, and look… but there is just an odd square-shaped label on the back. That is a datamatrix code. Datamatrix codes are predominately used to label small items such as computer parts and letters, but are also used to identify large things such as railroad box cars.
The code itself is defined as a two-dimensional barcode that consists of a rectangular pattern of black and white modules. The pattern is composed of a finder strip, which is an ‘L-shaped’ border along one half of the square; two borders of alternating black and white squares; and rows and columns of information. The information, when needed, can be accessed by laser barcode scanners either automatically or by an operator. The data contained is typically an amalgamation of alphanumeric characters aligned into a serial number or other identifying details.