ISO/IEC 21471:2025
(Main)Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Data Matrix Rectangular Extension (DMRE) bar code symbology specification
Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Data Matrix Rectangular Extension (DMRE) bar code symbology specification
This document defines the requirements for the symbology known as Data Matrix Rectangular Extension (DMRE). This document specifies the DMRE code symbology characteristics, data character encodation, symbol formats, dimensions and print quality requirements, error correction rules, decoding algorithm, and user-selectable application parameters. This document applies to all DMRE code symbols produced by any printing or marking technology. Original Data Matrix code sizes are not covered by this document but defined in ISO/IEC 16022 using the same matrix placement, decoding and error correction algorithm.
Technologies de l'information – Techniques de l'identification et de saisie de données automatiques – Data Matrix Rectangulaire Etendu (DMRE) spécification de symbologie de code à barres
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
International
Standard
ISO/IEC 21471
Second edition
Information technology —
2025-04
Automatic identification and data
capture techniques — Data Matrix
Rectangular Extension (DMRE) bar
code symbology specification
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Symbols . 2
5 Symbol description. 2
5.1 Basic characteristics .2
5.2 Summary of additional features .3
5.3 Symbol structure .3
5.3.1 General .3
5.3.2 Finder pattern .3
5.3.3 Symbol sizes and capacities .3
6 DMRE requirements . 4
6.1 Encoding procedure overview .4
6.1.1 General .4
6.1.2 Step 1: Data encodation .4
6.1.3 Step 2: Error checking and correcting codeword generation .4
6.1.4 Step 3: Module placement in matrix .4
6.2 DMRE symbol attributes .4
6.2.1 Symbol sizes and capacity .4
6.2.2 Insertion of alignment patterns into larger symbols .5
6.3 Structured append .5
6.4 Error detection and correction .5
6.5 Symbol construction .5
6.5.1 General .5
6.5.2 Symbol character placement .6
6.5.3 Alignment pattern module placement .6
6.5.4 Finder pattern module placement .6
7 Symbol dimensions . 6
8 Symbol quality . 7
9 Reference decode algorithm for DMRE . 7
10 User guidelines . 7
10.1 Human readable interpretation .7
10.2 Autodiscrimination capability .7
10.3 System considerations .7
11 Transmitted data . 7
Annex A (informative) DMRE alignment patterns . 8
Annex B (normative) Error correction codeword generator polynomials . 9
Annex C (informative) Symbol character placement .12
Annex D (normative) Symbology identifier . 14
Annex E (informative) Encode example .15
Annex F (informative) Autodiscrimination capability .18
Annex G (informative) System considerations . 19
Bibliography .20
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity.
ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/
IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
ISO and IEC draw attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the
use of (a) patent(s). ISO and IEC take no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any
claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO and IEC had not
received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers
are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
database available at www.iso.org/patents and https://patents.iec.ch. ISO and IEC shall not be held
responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/IEC 21471:2020), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows: information duplicated from ISO/IEC 16022 has been removed.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and
www.iec.ch/national-committees.
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
iv
Introduction
Data Matrix Rectangular Extension (DMRE) is a two-dimensional matrix symbology which is made up
of nominally square modules arranged within a perimeter finder pattern. Though primarily shown and
described in this document as a dark symbol on light background, DMRE symbols can also be printed to
appear as light on dark.
This document is an extension of ISO/IEC 16022, to which it adds rectangular formats. Maximum
compatibility is a design goal. This document only describes the required extension. Common properties are
not repeated. It is a goal to combine ISO/IEC 16022 and this document in the future, when DMRE is widely
adopted.
This document is published separately because existing equipment supporting ISO/IEC 16022 will not
recognize DMRE symbols. Only equipment that is enabled and configured to support DMRE will be capable
of printing and scanning the new rectangular formats.
Manufacturers of bar code equipment and users of the technology require publicly available standard
symbology specifications to which they can refer when developing equipment and application standards.
The publication of standardized symbology specifications is designed to achieve this.
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
v
International Standard ISO/IEC 21471:2025(en)
Information technology — Automatic identification and data
capture techniques — Data Matrix Rectangular Extension
(DMRE) bar code symbology specification
1 Scope
This document defines the requirements for the symbology known as Data Matrix Rectangular Extension
(DMRE). This document specifies the DMRE code symbology charact
...
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