GS1 Element String
The basic AI + data unit that makes up a GS1 barcode.
Definition
An element string pairs an Application Identifier (AI) with the data it qualifies. Several element strings can be concatenated in one symbol; variable-length fields are terminated by a separator character (FNC1).
Origin
A concept defined in the GS1 General Specifications, which specify its syntax, the AIs and the concatenation rules.
Example in context
(01) 03453120000011 and (10) ABC123 are two element strings; since (10) is variable-length, an FNC1 marks its end when another string follows.
Related terms
- GS1 Application Identifier — prefix at the head of each string.
- FNC1 — separator for variable-length fields.