How to Generate Barcodes in Xamarin Using IronBarcode

Creating barcodes in Xamarin applications doesn't have to be complex or time-consuming. With IronBarcode, developers can generate professional-quality barcodes and QR codes across Android projects and iOS platforms using just a few lines of C# code. This comprehensive .NET barcode library eliminates the need for platform-specific implementations while providing enterprise-grade features that work consistently across all mobile devices in your Xamarin Forms or native Xamarin projects.

This article demonstrates how to implement a robust barcode generation system in your cross-platform mobile application using IronBarcode with the help of code samples. You'll learn how to install the library via NuGet, generate various barcode formats including QR codes, customize their appearance with colors and annotations, and export them in multiple file formats. IronBarcode can do all of this while maintaining clean, maintainable C# code that works seamlessly across Android and iOS platforms.

Why Use a Professional Barcode Library for Xamarin Forms?

Implementing barcode generation from scratch in Xamarin.Forms require handling complex encoding algorithms, managing platform-specific rendering differences, and ensuring accurate output across various barcode symbologies. A professional .NET barcode library, such as IronBarcode, eliminates these challenges by providing a unified API that handles all technical complexities internally through simple C# methods.

IronBarcode supports over 30 barcode formats, including QR codes, Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, UPC-A, Data Matrix, PDF 417, and Aztec codes. Each format is optimized for specific use cases. For example, QR codes excel at storing URLs and large text data, EAN13 serves retail products, while Code128 provides high-density alphanumeric encoding. The library automatically calculates checksums, applies appropriate error correction levels, and ensures compliance with GS1 standards for commercial applications.

The cross-platform nature of IronBarcode ensures that your barcode generation code remains identical, regardless of whether you are targeting the Android or iOS mobile platforms. This consistency extends beyond Xamarin applications - the same code works in ASP.NET applications, desktop software, and even Docker containers, making it ideal for enterprises with diverse deployment requirements. The library's built-in image processing capabilities handle common issues like resolution scaling and format conversion automatically. Learn more about IronBarcode's cross-platform capabilities.

How to Install IronBarcode in Your Xamarin Project?

Installing IronBarcode in your Xamarin.Forms project takes just minutes through NuGet Package Manager. Open your Visual Studio solution containing your cross-platform mobile projects and follow these steps for seamless integration with your existing .NET code.

First, right-click on your solution in Solution Explorer and select "Manage NuGet Packages for Solution". In the Browse tab, search for "IronBarCode" (note the specific capitalization). Select the official IronBarcode package by Iron Software and install it in all projects in your solution, including the shared project and both platform-specific projects. You can also explore the complete NuGet package details for version history and dependencies.

Alternatively, use the Package Manager Console with this command for quick installation in your Xamarin barcode generator project:

Install-Package BarCode

For Android application projects, no additional permissions are required for basic barcode creation. However, if you plan to save generated scanned barcodes to external storage, add the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission to your AndroidManifest.xml file. Review the Android-specific implementation guide for detailed platform considerations.

For iOS projects, if you're saving QR codes or barcodes to the photo library, add the NSPhotoLibraryAddUsageDescription key to your Info.plist file with an appropriate description. The iOS barcode implementation documentation provides complete setup instructions.

To use IronBarcode's full functionality without watermarks, you'll need a license key. You can obtain a free trial license from the Iron Software website that provides complete access to all barcode generation features for 30 days. Set your license key once in your application startup code:

IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY-HERE";

IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY-HERE";

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Without a license key, IronBarcode operates in evaluation mode with watermarks on generated barcodes. For production applications, Iron Software offers various licensing options, including single-project, organization-wide, and SaaS distribution licenses tailored for mobile app deployment.

How to Generate Your First Barcode?

Creating your first barcode with IronBarcode in a Xamarin.Forms application requires minimal C# code. Here's a complete example that generates a Code128 barcode in your mobile app:

using IronBarCode;
using System.IO;
public void GenerateSimpleBarcode(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // Create a barcode with one line of code
    var myBarcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("https://ironsoftware.com", BarcodeEncoding.Code128);
    // Resize to specific dimensions
    myBarcode.ResizeTo(500, 200);
    // Add text annotations
    myBarcode.AddBarcodeValueTextBelowBarcode();
    // Save as image
    string filePath = Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(
        Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal), "barcode.png");
    myBarcode.SaveAsPng(filePath);
}

using IronBarCode;
using System.IO;
public void GenerateSimpleBarcode(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // Create a barcode with one line of code
    var myBarcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("https://ironsoftware.com", BarcodeEncoding.Code128);
    // Resize to specific dimensions
    myBarcode.ResizeTo(500, 200);
    // Add text annotations
    myBarcode.AddBarcodeValueTextBelowBarcode();
    // Save as image
    string filePath = Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(
        Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal), "barcode.png");
    myBarcode.SaveAsPng(filePath);
}

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The BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode() method serves as your primary entry point for barcode generation in .NET applications. It accepts two elements: the data to encode and the barcode format from the BarcodeEncoding enum. The method returns a GeneratedBarcode object that provides extensive customization options through fluent APIs. Explore the complete BarcodeWriter API reference for advanced features.

The ResizeTo() method adjusts the barcode dimensions while maintaining proper aspect ratios and bar width requirements for the selected symbology. The AddBarcodeValueTextBelowBarcode() method adds human-readable text below the barcode, which is essential for many retail and inventory management applications in Xamarin.

Output

Generate QR Code

For QR code generation in your Xamarin barcode scanner app, the process is similarly straightforward using the specialized QRCodeWriter class:

public void GenerateQRCode()
{
    // Create a QR code with custom data
    var qrCode = QRCodeWriter.CreateQrCode("SKU-12345|Batch-789|Exp-2025", 500);
    // Set error correction to high for better reliability
    qrCode.ChangeBarCodeColor(IronSoftware.Drawing.Color.DarkBlue);
    // Convert to byte array for database storage
    byte[] barcodeBytes = qrCode.ToPngBinaryData();
}

public void GenerateQRCode()
{
    // Create a QR code with custom data
    var qrCode = QRCodeWriter.CreateQrCode("SKU-12345|Batch-789|Exp-2025", 500);
    // Set error correction to high for better reliability
    qrCode.ChangeBarCodeColor(IronSoftware.Drawing.Color.DarkBlue);
    // Convert to byte array for database storage
    byte[] barcodeBytes = qrCode.ToPngBinaryData();
}

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The QRCodeWriter.CreateQrCode() method specializes in QR code creation with additional features like logo embedding and color customization. The second parameter specifies the QR code size in pixels. The ToPngBinaryData() method converts the generated QR code to a byte array, perfect for storing in databases or transmitting over networks in your cross-platform mobile application. Check out more QR code generation examples for advanced implementations.

How to Work with Different Barcode Formats (EAN13, Data Matrix etc)?

IronBarcode's extensive format support allows you to generate the exact barcode type for your Xamarin.Forms application requires. Here's how to work with various popular barcode formats using C# in your mobile projects:

public void GenerateMultipleFormats(string productCode)
{
    // EAN-13 for European retail
    var ean13 = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(productCode, BarcodeEncoding.EAN13);
    ean13.SaveAsPng("product_ean13.png");
    // UPC-A for North American retail  
    var upcA = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(productCode, BarcodeEncoding.UPCA);
    upcA.SaveAsJpeg("product_upca.jpg");
    // DataMatrix for small items with high data density
    var dataMatrix = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(productCode, BarcodeEncoding.DataMatrix);
    dataMatrix.SaveAsPdf("product_datamatrix.pdf");
    // PDF417 for driver licenses and ID cards
    var pdf417 = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(productCode, BarcodeEncoding.PDF417);
    pdf417.SaveAsTiff("product_pdf417.tiff");
}

public void GenerateMultipleFormats(string productCode)
{
    // EAN-13 for European retail
    var ean13 = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(productCode, BarcodeEncoding.EAN13);
    ean13.SaveAsPng("product_ean13.png");
    // UPC-A for North American retail  
    var upcA = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(productCode, BarcodeEncoding.UPCA);
    upcA.SaveAsJpeg("product_upca.jpg");
    // DataMatrix for small items with high data density
    var dataMatrix = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(productCode, BarcodeEncoding.DataMatrix);
    dataMatrix.SaveAsPdf("product_datamatrix.pdf");
    // PDF417 for driver licenses and ID cards
    var pdf417 = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(productCode, BarcodeEncoding.PDF417);
    pdf417.SaveAsTiff("product_pdf417.tiff");
}

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Each barcode symbology has specific characteristics and use cases in mobile applications. EAN-13 and UPC-A require numeric-only input and automatically calculate check digits for retail scanning accuracy. DataMatrix excels at encoding large amounts of data in minimal space, making it ideal for tracking electronic components and pharmaceuticals. PDF417 supports extensive data storage with built-in error correction levels, commonly used in transportation and identification documents. Learn more about choosing the right barcode format for your specific use case.

Outputs

The .NET barcode library automatically validates input data against format requirements and throws descriptive exceptions for invalid inputs. This validation ensures generated barcodes comply with international ISO standards and scan reliably with commercial barcode readers used in retail and logistics environments.

How to Customize and Export Barcodes?

IronBarcode provides comprehensive customization options to match your Xamarin application's visual requirements and export needs for both Android and iOS platforms:

public void CustomizeAndExportBarcode()
{
    var barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("CUSTOM-2024", BarcodeEncoding.Code128);
    // Styling options for mobile UI consistency
    barcode.ChangeBarCodeColor(IronSoftware.Drawing.Color.Navy);
    barcode.ChangeBackgroundColor(IronSoftware.Drawing.Color.LightGray);
    barcode.SetMargins(10);
    // Add annotations for human readability
    barcode.AddAnnotationTextAboveBarcode("Product ID");
    barcode.AddBarcodeValueTextBelowBarcode(IronSoftware.Drawing.Font("Arial", 12));
    // Platform-specific file handling in Xamarin
    string documentsPath;
    if (Device.RuntimePlatform == Device.iOS)
    {
        documentsPath = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments);
    }
    else // Android
    {
        documentsPath = Android.OS.Environment.GetExternalStoragePublicDirectory(
            Android.OS.Environment.DirectoryDownloads).AbsolutePath;
    }
    // Export in multiple formats for versatility
    barcode.SaveAsPng(Path.Combine(documentsPath, "barcode.png"));
    barcode.SaveAsWindowsBitmap(Path.Combine(documentsPath, "barcode.bmp"));
    barcode.SaveAsPdf(Path.Combine(documentsPath, "barcode.pdf"));
}

public void CustomizeAndExportBarcode()
{
    var barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("CUSTOM-2024", BarcodeEncoding.Code128);
    // Styling options for mobile UI consistency
    barcode.ChangeBarCodeColor(IronSoftware.Drawing.Color.Navy);
    barcode.ChangeBackgroundColor(IronSoftware.Drawing.Color.LightGray);
    barcode.SetMargins(10);
    // Add annotations for human readability
    barcode.AddAnnotationTextAboveBarcode("Product ID");
    barcode.AddBarcodeValueTextBelowBarcode(IronSoftware.Drawing.Font("Arial", 12));
    // Platform-specific file handling in Xamarin
    string documentsPath;
    if (Device.RuntimePlatform == Device.iOS)
    {
        documentsPath = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments);
    }
    else // Android
    {
        documentsPath = Android.OS.Environment.GetExternalStoragePublicDirectory(
            Android.OS.Environment.DirectoryDownloads).AbsolutePath;
    }
    // Export in multiple formats for versatility
    barcode.SaveAsPng(Path.Combine(documentsPath, "barcode.png"));
    barcode.SaveAsWindowsBitmap(Path.Combine(documentsPath, "barcode.bmp"));
    barcode.SaveAsPdf(Path.Combine(documentsPath, "barcode.pdf"));
}

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The styling methods allow complete control over barcode appearance in your mobile interface. Colors can be specified using RGB values or predefined color constants to match your app's theme. The SetMargins() method adds padding around the barcode, preventing scanning issues when barcodes are placed near edges. Explore additional barcode customization techniques for advanced visual effects.

File handling in cross-platform Xamarin development requires platform-specific aspects. iOS apps should save to the documents directory or photo library, while Android apps typically use external storage directories. The .NET Standard library supports all major image formats, including PNG, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, and BMP, plus PDF for document integration. For more complex scenarios, review the barcode export documentation for additional output options.

Conclusion

IronBarcode transforms barcode generation in Xamarin applications from a complex challenge into a straightforward implementation. Its comprehensive format support, cross-platform consistency, and extensive customization options make it the ideal choice for professional mobile applications requiring reliable barcode and QR code functionality in .NET environments.

Start implementing professional barcode generation in your Xamarin.Forms or native Xamarin application today with a free trial license. Ready to purchase? View pricing and buy a license that fits your project needs.