iOS Barcode Scanner SDK

The iOS Barcode Scanner SDK is a full-featured software library to integrate barcode scanning into your iOS apps.

The iOS APIs allow you to access cameras available on the device for video input, display a barcode scanner interface, configure in-depth settings for AI-powered scanning and performance, and customize the UI for your users and brand.

All samples for the iOS Barcode Scanner SDK are in the GitHub repo datacapture-ios-samples. Instructions for running the samples are in the README file.

You will need a license key to run the samples. You can obtain one by signing up for a free trial of the SDK.

Read our system requirements to learn what’s needed to develop and run Scandit’s iOS software.

Our iOS Barcode Scanner SDK supports 30+ of the most common barcodes, including UPC, EAN, Code 39, Code 128, ITF, Code 93, Codabar, Databar, MS1 Plessey, QR codes, DataMatrix, PDF417 and Aztec codes. 

For a detailed list, please refer to our Barcode Symbologies documentation page.

There’s also no guarantee that barcode integrity is sound. The Scandit barcode scanner SDK for native iOS can handle instances where barcodes are torn, wrapped in plastic or are tiny. It works in low light, at wide angles and at long distances.

Check out How to Add an iOS Barcode Scanner SDK to learn more about integrating barcode scanning capabilities into your iOS applications.

The iOS Barcode Scanner SDK has significant advantages over open source alternatives for enterprise developers. While open source libraries offer basic functionality, Scandit software provides advanced features, enterprise-grade reliability, consistent updates, and dedicated technical support — critical factors when scanning is central to business operations.

Using proprietary AI and computer vision algorithms, Scandit solutions typically outperform open source in challenging environments with poor lighting, damaged codes, or unusual angles. They also offer advanced capabilities like batch scanning, context-based scanning, and augmented reality overlays that open source solutions cannot match.

The iOS Barcode Scanner SDK also saves valuable development time with comprehensive documentation, cross-platform compatibility, and pre-built components that allow teams to focus on core business logic rather than maintaining the scanning engine.

The tables in this article give you an indication of the built app size containing the Scandit SDK for iOS.

Our production licenses do not require a continuous internet connection. However, test licenses require an internet connection during scanning.

If you need to test offline, we can provide a license key – please contact support.

To implement Scandit barcode scanning for native iOS, you have two options:

1. To use the SparkScan pre-built component, download the package, configure and initialize the library, enable barcode symbologies, and register a barcode capture listener to receive scan events. This Get Started guide has the details.

2. To use the fully customizable iOS Barcode Scanner SDK, install the SDK, configure and initialize the library, enable barcode symbologies, register a barcode capture listener to receive scan events, and consider how to design your scanning UI. This Get Started guide has the details.

You can also read our full developer’s guide on how to add an iOS barcode scanner SDK.

To implement Scandit barcode scanning in an iOS app, you will need to install the iOS Barcode Scanner SDK, configure and initialize the library, enable barcode symbologies, register a barcode capture listener to receive scan events, and consider how to design your scanning UI.

Our How to Add an iOS Barcode Scanner SDK blog provides a step-by-step tutorial for a barcode scanning solution for iOS using the pre-built features in Scandit SparkScan.

Scandit’s iOS barcode scanning library can be integrated into your app to provide advanced barcode scanning features to users. The SparkScan component provides a pre-built user interface for rapid deployment..

The iOS API allows you to access cameras available on the device for video input, display a barcode scanner interface, configure in-depth settings for AI-powered scanning and performance, and customize the UI for your users and brand.

iOS barcode scanner libraries typically capture barcodes using the device camera and use computer vision techniques to extract important information. The app receives barcode data through event listeners and triggers further actions, such as notifying the user and storing the information.

Scandit’s iOS barcode scanning library eases development effort by embedding well-researched UI components and automating many aspects of the scanning process – meaning developers don’t have to worry about implementing and testing them.

iOS apps commonly use event listeners, which trigger actions in response to successful barcode scans.

Scandit’s iOS barcode scanning library provides an SDCBarcodeCaptureListener interface that you can implement to inform your app whenever a new barcode is recognized, and the SDCBarcodeCaptureSession class that contains the list of barcodes to handle.