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Top Android Barcode Libraries

Top Android Barcode Libraries.

Introduction​

Barcode libraries are essential tools for developers to integrate barcode scanning functionality into their Android applications. These libraries provide an easy way to decode barcodes from various sources such as images, camera streams, or even QR codes.

In this tutorial, we will explore some of the top Android barcode libraries, their features, and how to install and use them in your projects.

ZXing​

ZXing (Zebra Crossing) is a widely-used open-source barcode scanning library for Android. It supports a wide range of barcode formats, including QR codes, 1D barcodes, and 2D barcodes.

Installation​

To install ZXing, add the following dependency to your app-level build.gradle file:

implementation 'com.google.zxing:core:3.4.0'

Usage​

To use ZXing for barcode scanning, you can either integrate the ZXing library directly into your application or use the ZXing barcode scanning app via an Intent.

Integration​

To integrate ZXing directly into your app, you can create a CaptureActivity that extends com.google.zxing.client.android.CaptureActivity. This activity will handle the barcode scanning process.

class MyCaptureActivity : CaptureActivity() {
    // Handle the barcode results here
    override fun handleDecode(result: Result?) {
        // Handle the scanned barcode result
        result?.text?.let {
            // Do something with the barcode result
            Toast.makeText(this, "Scanned barcode: $it", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()
        }
    }
}

Intent​

Alternatively, you can use the ZXing barcode scanning app via an Intent. This approach requires the user to have the ZXing barcode scanning app installed on their device.

// Launch the ZXing barcode scanning app via an Intent
fun startBarcodeScanner() {
    val intent = Intent("com.google.zxing.client.android.SCAN")
    intent.putExtra("SCAN_MODE", "QR_CODE_MODE") // Specify the scan mode (optional)
    startActivityForResult(intent, SCAN_REQUEST_CODE)
}

// Handle the barcode scanning result
override fun onActivityResult(requestCode: Int, resultCode: Int, data: Intent?) {
    super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data)
    if (requestCode == SCAN_REQUEST_CODE && resultCode == RESULT_OK) {
        val barcodeResult = data?.getStringExtra("SCAN_RESULT")
        // Do something with the barcode result
        Toast.makeText(this, "Scanned barcode: $barcodeResult", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()
    }
}

ML Kit Barcode Scanning​

ML Kit is a powerful machine learning framework by Google that provides various APIs, including barcode scanning. ML Kit Barcode Scanning API supports a wide range of barcode formats and provides real-time and offline barcode scanning capabilities.

Installation​

To use the ML Kit Barcode Scanning API, add the following dependency to your app-level build.gradle file:

implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-ml-vision:24.1.0'
implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-ml-vision-barcode-model:19.0.3'

Usage​

To use ML Kit Barcode Scanning, you need to create an instance of FirebaseVisionBarcodeDetector and pass the image data to be scanned.

// Create an instance of FirebaseVisionBarcodeDetector
val options = FirebaseVisionBarcodeDetectorOptions.Builder()
    .setBarcodeFormats(FirebaseVisionBarcode.FORMAT_ALL_FORMATS) // Specify the barcode formats to scan
    .build()
val detector = FirebaseVision.getInstance().getVisionBarcodeDetector(options)

// Pass the image data to the detector
val image = FirebaseVisionImage.fromBitmap(bitmap)
detector.detectInImage(image)
    .addOnSuccessListener { barcodes ->
        // Handle the detected barcodes
        for (barcode in barcodes) {
            val barcodeValue = barcode.rawValue
            // Do something with the barcode value
            Toast.makeText(this, "Scanned barcode: $barcodeValue", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()
        }
    }
    .addOnFailureListener { e ->
        // Handle any errors
        Toast.makeText(this, "Barcode scanning failed: ${e.message}", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()
    }

Additional Libraries​

Here are some additional barcode libraries for Android that you can explore:

Feel free to explore these libraries based on your specific requirements.

That's it! You now have a detailed understanding of the features and installation process of some of the top Android barcode libraries. Happy coding!

Note: Make sure to check the official documentation and GitHub repositories of each library for the latest updates and usage instructions.