In the world of document processing and data management, the ability to decode barcodes quickly and accurately plays a critical role. Barcodes are ubiquitous across industries, from retail and logistics to healthcare and manufacturing, and serve as essential tools for tracking, identification and inventory management. Using advanced technologies such as ZBar to decode barcodes in Document AI can significantly streamline workflows and increase overall efficiency. In this blog post, we explain this library, its benefits and how it can revolutionize barcode decoding within Document AI.
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Definition
What is zbar? ZBar is an open-source software package for reading barcodes from various sources, including images, videos and PDF documents. It supports various types of barcodes, such as QR codes, EAN-13, Code 128 and many others. The library offers a user-friendly interface, making it a popular choice for developers and businesses looking to integrate barcode scanning capabilities into their applications and workflows.
The role of ZBar in Document AI
Document AI, an evolving field of artificial intelligence, focuses on automating document processing tasks to reduce human intervention and speed data extraction. By integrating ZBar with Document AI solutions, organizations can efficiently capture barcode data from large volumes of documents such as invoices, shipping labels, and inventory records. This integration increases the accuracy of data extraction and minimizes the risk of human error, resulting in improved operational efficiency.
ZBar advantages
- Speed and efficiency:
The optimized algorithms of this library enable fast decoding of barcodes in real time. This makes them ideal for processing large document volumes. By automating barcode scanning, Document AI applications based on ZBar can significantly reduce processing time. This allows companies to focus on higher value tasks. - Accuracy and reliability:
The accuracy of barcode decoding is critical. This is especially true for industries where accurate identification is essential for logistics, product tracking, and regulatory compliance. Robust decoding capabilities ensure reliable results. They also minimize the likelihood of bar codes being misread or overlooked. The result is improved data integrity. - Cross-platform compatibility
The library is designed to work on multiple platforms and in multiple programming languages. This makes it highly adaptable to different applications. ZBar fits seamlessly into the existing technology stack and simplifies the development process.
Implementation with Python: A Step-by-Step Guide
1. start the installation of pyzbar
pip install pyzbar
2. load image or document with cv2 (you can also use Pillow or another package).
import cv2
image_path = "path/to/your/image.png"
image = cv2.imread(image_path)
3. barcode scanning, use now pyzbarto scan the image for barcodes and extract the decoded data.
from pyzbar.pyzbar import decode
decoded_barcodes = decode(image)
4. loop through the decoded barcodes. After that, each result is superimposed on the original image in the form of a rectangle. Don't forget to use the barcode data as a label for this rectangle.
for barcode in barcodes:
barcode_data = barcode.data.decode("utf-8")
x, y, w, h = barcode.rect
cv2.rectangle(image, (x, y), (x+w, y+h), (255,0,255), 2)
cv2.putText(image, barcode_data, (x, y - 10),
cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX,
1, (255,0,255), 2)
Example
Here is an example of how the result of processing a document with barcodes on Konfuzio would look like:

If you want to use our barcode decoding solution, please feel free to contact us via the contact form.
Alternatives to ZBar
zxing-cpp
ZXing-C++ ("Zebra crossing") is an in C++ implemented open source library for processing linear/matrix barcodes in multiple formats.
It was originally ported from the Java ZXing Library, but has been further developed and now includes many improvements in quality and performance. It can both read and write barcodes in a number of formats.
The library has been carefully prepared in pure C++17 (/C++20) developed. This ensures a solid foundation without relying on third-party dependencies. In particular, it offers thread safety and has an impressive selection of wrappers/bindings for various platforms. For example: Android, C, iOS, Python, WebAssembly, WinRT and even Flutter.
QuaggaJS
QuaggaJS is a barcode scanner written entirely in JavaScript. It supports real-time localization and decoding of various barcode types. For example: EAN, CODE 128, CODE 39, EAN 8, UPC-A, UPC-C, I2of5, 2of5, CODE 93 and CODABAR.
The library can directly access the user's camera stream. Although the code is based on complex image processing, smartphones are able to locate and decode barcodes in real time.
More
If you've enjoyed Konfuzio's AI blogs so far, we've got a treat for you! Explore our extensive collection of captivating articles that delve into the fascinating world of Document AI:
- Downsize your AI model while maintaining performance
- Deep Dive Document Layout Analysis with High-Tech Tools
- Document AI: Alternative to Document AI
- Donut Deep Dive - Document Understanding