# Barcode Generator (`zsoftware/barcode-generator`) Actor

Generate high-quality barcode images for a list of values in popular formats like Code 128, EAN-13, UPC, and more. This actor takes an array of input values and a selected barcode type, then outputs a downloadable ZIP file containing PNG images of the generated barcodes.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/zsoftware/barcode-generator.md
- **Developed by:** [Karim](https://apify.com/zsoftware) (community)
- **Categories:** E-commerce, Developer tools, Automation
- **Stats:** 4 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

Pay per event

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## 📦 Barcode Generator

This Apify actor generates barcode images from a list of input texts.\
Each barcode is saved as an individual PNG file, and all images are also bundled into a downloadable ZIP file.

### 🛠 Features

- Supports multiple barcode types (e.g., **Code128**, **EAN13**)
- Saves individual barcode images to the Key-Value Store
- Packages all barcode images into a single ZIP file
- Outputs structured dataset records (text, barcode type, filename, image URL)

Supported barcode types include: `code128`, `ean13`, `ean8`, `upca`, `isbn13`, `issn`, etc.

### 📥 Input Fields

| Field         | Type             | Required | Default   | Description                              |
| ------------- | ---------------- | -------- | --------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| `texts`       | Array of strings | Yes      | —         | List of texts to generate barcodes from. |
| `barcodeType` | String           | No       | `code128` | Barcode format to use for generation.    |

> ℹ️ **Note**: Some barcode types (e.g., `ean13`, `ean8`) require the text to be numeric and of specific lengths.

### 📤 Output

- Each generated barcode is saved as a **PNG** image file in the default Key-Value Store.
- All images are also bundled together into a single **ZIP** file (`barcodes.zip`).
- A dataset entry is created for each barcode, including:
  - The original text
  - The filename
  - A public URL to access the barcode image

Example of a dataset record:

```json
{
  "text": "123456789012",
  "filename": "barcode_1.png",
  "image_url": "https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/%7BSTORE_ID%7D/records/barcode_1.png"
}
```

### ⚙️ How It Works

1. **Input Processing**\
   The actor reads the list of `texts` provided in the input and the selected `barcodeType`.

2. **Barcode Generation**\
   For each text:

   - A barcode image is generated based on the specified barcode type.
   - The barcode is saved as a PNG image into the Key-Value Store.

3. **Dataset Entry Creation**\
   Alongside each generated barcode:

   - A dataset record is created containing the original text, the image filename, and a direct image URL.

4. **ZIP File Creation**\
   After all barcodes are generated:

   - All barcode images are bundled together into a `barcodes.zip` file and saved to the Key-Value Store for easy downloading.

5. **Final Output**\
   Users can:
   - Download individual barcode images.
   - Download the entire collection as a single ZIP file.
   - Access a structured dataset with links to each barcode image.

# Actor input Schema

## `barcodeValues` (type: `array`):

Values for which we wish to generate barcodes

## `barcodeType` (type: `string`):

Select your barcode type

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "barcodeValues": [
    "123456789012",
    "987654321098"
  ],
  "barcodeType": "code128"
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "barcodeValues": [
        "123456789012",
        "987654321098"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("zsoftware/barcode-generator").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "barcodeValues": [
        "123456789012",
        "987654321098",
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("zsoftware/barcode-generator").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "barcodeValues": [
    "123456789012",
    "987654321098"
  ]
}' |
apify call zsoftware/barcode-generator --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,zsoftware/barcode-generator"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/bfi4NDf8yI2x0hxL9/builds/VPqJvPrfK2Jb9wvMf/openapi.json