What Is the GS1 Digital Link?
The GS1 Digital Link is a web-friendly URL that carries GS1 identifiers — like GTIN, SSCC, GLN, batch, expiry, and serial — so a smartphone can scan a 2D barcode and reach a product page directly. Think of it as a barcode that also works as a clickable link. Old 1D barcodes only hold a number (the GTIN). A GS1 Digital Link URL holds the same number plus extra data, all written as path pieces in the link. The result is one single QR code that can be scanned at the store checkout and by a shopper's phone to open product info. This is the heart of Sunrise 2027 — the GS1 plan that will let 2D barcodes (QR or Data Matrix) replace the old 1D barcode at retail checkout worldwide by the year 2027. With our free GS1 Digital Link generator, you can build these URLs right now, no signup and no coding.
Why Use Our Free GS1 Digital Link Generator?
- Build URLs from any GS1 identifier: start with a GTIN, SSCC, GLN, GCP, or any GS1 key — the tool will lay it out as a proper Digital Link URL.
- Live QR code preview: see the QR code render in real time as you type, so you can verify the data before you print or share it.
- Supports 30+ AI codes: AI 01 (GTIN), AI 10 (batch), AI 17 (expiry), AI 21 (serial), AI 240 (item reference), and many more — all in one form.
- Runs 100% in your browser: no servers, no logs, no API keys. Your GTIN, batch, and serial never leave your device.
- Free forever: unlimited URLs, unlimited QR codes, free for personal, school, or commercial use.
How the GS1 Digital Link Works: A Simple Explanation
The Digital Link syntax uses path pieces instead of old-style ?key=value query params. A normal URL might look like example.com/?gtin=01&batch=ABC. The GS1 Digital Link URL writes it as https://id.gs1.org/01/01234567890128/10/ABC123/17/251231. Each piece of the path is an Application Identifier (AI) followed by its value. AI 01 means GTIN, AI 10 means batch, AI 17 means expiry date, AI 21 means serial number. The slashes separate every AI and value pair. A GS1 Digital Link resolver — like the free public one at id.gs1.org — reads those pieces and sends the shopper to the right product page. You can also host the resolver on your own brand domain (for example yourbrand.com/01/...) so the consumer sees a branded URL when they scan.
Step-by-Step: Using the GS1 Digital Link Generator
- Enter your main identifier: type your GTIN, SSCC, or GLN in the first field. The tool checks the check digit (mod-10) so a typo shows up right away.
- Add your secondary AIs: add AI 10 for the batch or lot number, AI 17 for the expiry date (YYMMDD), AI 21 for the serial number, or AI 240 for an internal item reference.
- See the URL preview: the full GS1 Digital Link URL renders live below the form. The QR code preview updates at the same time.
- Copy the URL or download the QR code: click Copy to grab the URL, or click Download to save the QR PNG. Paste the link anywhere, or print the QR code on your packaging.
Real-World Examples of GS1 Digital Link URLs
Here are three real examples you can paste straight into the generator:
- GTIN + batch + expiry:
https://id.gs1.org/01/3017620422003/10/ABC123/17/251231— a consumer product with a batch and a 31-Dec-2025 expiry. - SSCC (logistics unit):
https://id.gs1.org/00/000123456789012343— a pallet or carton label for shipping and warehousing. - GTIN + serial:
https://id.gs1.org/01/01234567890128/21/SN12345— a unique serial on a high-value item, used for track-and-trace and anti-counterfeit.
Who Uses a GS1 Digital Link Generator? Industries and Roles
- Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG): food, drink, household, and personal care brands put a 2D code on the pack so shoppers can scan and open product info.
- Pharmaceuticals: drug makers use the Digital Link to carry a GTIN plus serial and batch for track-and-trace, anti-counterfeit, and recalls.
- Food and grocery: fresh food brands add AI 17 (expiry) and AI 10 (batch) so a scan shows the use-by date and lot in one click.
- Retail (Sunrise 2027): supermarkets and big retailers must accept 2D codes at the POS by 2027 — the Digital Link is the URL syntax that powers it.
- Smart packaging: brand owners put the QR code on a box or label so a shopper can scan for recycling rules, allergen lists, and warranty info.
GS1 Digital Link Glossary: Key Terms Explained
- GS1 Digital Link
- A URL syntax from GS1 that puts GS1 keys and AIs into the path of a link so a 2D code can carry product data and also open a web page.
- Application Identifier (AI)
- A short 2–4 digit prefix that tells a scanner what kind of data follows — AI 01 for GTIN, AI 10 for batch, AI 17 for expiry, AI 21 for serial.
- GTIN
- Global Trade Item Number — the 8, 12, 13, or 14 digit number under a retail barcode that names a specific product and size.
- Sunrise 2027
- The GS1 industry plan that lets 2D barcodes (QR or Data Matrix) replace the old 1D barcode at retail point-of-sale by the year 2027.
- Resolver
- A web service that takes a Digital Link URL and sends the scanner to the right page. GS1 runs a free public resolver at id.gs1.org.
- 2D Barcode
- A square barcode like a QR code or Data Matrix that holds more data than a 1D barcode and can also carry a clickable URL.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
- Use real GS1 identifiers: a Digital Link only works at retail checkout if your GTIN is a real, registered GS1 number tied to your brand prefix.
- Validate the check digit first: use our Check Digit Calculator to verify the last digit of a GTIN or SSCC before you build the URL.
- Pick the right AIs for your data: only use AI 17 for expiry dates, AI 10 for batch, AI 21 for serial — wrong AIs will confuse the resolver.
- Test the QR code before mass-printing: scan a sample with two or three phones to make sure it opens the right page before you print 10,000 labels.
- Use a public resolver like id.gs1.org: for testing, the GS1 public resolver is free and works with any valid GS1 identifier — switch to your own brand domain later.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Invalid GTIN (wrong check digit): a GTIN with a bad last digit will fail at the POS. Always check the mod-10 check digit before you print.
- Wrong AI codes: putting a date in AI 21 (serial) instead of AI 17 (expiry) will send scanners to the wrong place and break the URL.
- Missing leading zeros: GTIN-14, SSCC, and GLN must keep every leading zero — drop one and the number becomes a different key.
- Forgetting the URL needs https: a Digital Link must start with
https://— without it, phones and resolvers may not open the link.
GS1 Digital Link vs Old-School Barcodes
An old 1D barcode (the EAN/UPC you see on a shop shelf) holds one thing — a GTIN, which is a 8, 12, 13, or 14 digit number. The POS scans the GTIN and looks up the price in the store system. That is all it can do. It cannot carry a batch, an expiry, a serial, or a link to a web page. A shopper with a phone cannot open product info from a 1D barcode — they can only see the number.
A GS1 Digital Link 2D barcode (QR or Data Matrix) carries a full URL. The same code can be scanned at the checkout to send the GTIN to the POS, and scanned by a shopper's phone to open a product page with images, allergens, recycling rules, and warranty info. You can add batch (AI 10), expiry (AI 17), and serial (AI 21) on the same code for traceability. This is why Sunrise 2027 moves retail from 1D to 2D — one code does both jobs, the shopper and the POS, with no extra cost on the pack.
Ready to Generate Your GS1 Digital Link?
You now know what a GS1 Digital Link is, why Sunrise 2027 matters, and how to convert a GTIN, SSCC, or GLN into a web-friendly URL. Open the tool above, type your identifier, add your AIs, and watch the live QR preview. When the URL looks right, copy it or download the PNG — free, no signup, no rate limit. Jump back to the generator above ↑