Data Matrix

Data Matrix is a high-density 2D matrix symbology that can store large amounts of data in a small area. Data Matrix codes are used to label small items.

A sample Data Matrix Code is shown below.

Symbology Characteristics

Configuration name	`datamatrix`
ISO specification	ISO/IEC 16022
Encodable character set	All 8-bit values can be encoded.
Capacity	The largest symbol can encode up to 3116 numeric characters, 2335 alphanumeric characters, or 1555 bytes of binary data.
Integrity protection	Reed-Solomon error correction (ECC200).
Quiet zone	A quiet zone of one module (1X) is required around the symbol.

Configuration Options

Data Matrix does not have any symbology-specific configuration options.

Detection Metadata

Starting with SDK version 1.18.0, Data Matrix detections carry symbology-specific metadata in the optional metadata property of the CodeDetection. The metadata is of type DataMatrixMetadata.

Property	Type	Description
`rows`	`number`	The number of rows of modules (8 to 144).
`cols`	`number`	The number of columns of modules (10 to 144). Rectangular symbols have more columns than rows.
`structuredAppend`	`object`	Structured Append (SA) information, only present if the symbol is part of a Structured Append sequence (optional).
`structuredAppend.index`	`number`	The position of this symbol in the SA sequence, starting at 1.
`structuredAppend.count`	`number`	The total number of symbols in the SA sequence (2 to 16).
`structuredAppend.fileId`	`number`	The file identification, identical for all symbols of the same SA sequence. The two file identification codewords (each 1 to 254) are combined as `(fileId1 << 8) \| fileId2`.

Limitations

The following elements of the ISO specification are not implemented:

ISO/IEC 21471 extensions (DMRE)
Structured Append
ECI (Extended Channel Interpretation)
ECC 000–140: these are obsolete error correction modes that we do not plan to support.

04 November 2026