GS1 Digital Link & Element String Builder
Compose the GS1 element string — (01) GTIN, (17) expiry, (10) batch/lot, (21) serial — and the matching GS1 Digital Link URI for pharma and FMCG serialisation (DSCSA, EU FMD, India track & trace).
Serialise once. Authenticate every scan.
A GS1 Digital Link tells a scanner what a product is. FirstScanIt binds each serial to a tamper-proof cryptographic signature so a scan also proves it's genuine — and flags duplicates instantly across your supply chain.
Secure Serialisation for Pharma & FMCGGS1 Application Identifiers Explained
Pharmaceutical and FMCG serialisation encodes several data fields into one barcode using GS1 Application Identifiers (AIs) — numeric prefixes that label each field:
- (01) GTIN — the Global Trade Item Number identifying the product (always 14 digits in an element string).
- (17) Expiry date — format YYMMDD.
- (10) Batch / Lot number — up to 20 alphanumeric characters.
- (21) Serial number — the unique unit identity that enables item-level track & trace.
- (11) Production date — optional, format YYMMDD.
Element String vs. Digital Link
The element string is what gets encoded into a GS1 DataMatrix or GS1-128 barcode for industrial scanners. The GS1 Digital Link expresses the same data as a web URL, so a consumer's phone camera can open a product page directly. Choose based on who is scanning.
Where This Is Required
Item-level serialisation with (01)+(21) is mandated by the US DSCSA, the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD), India's drug track-and-trace rules, Saudi Arabia's SFDA, and others. Compare requirements across markets with our Serialization Compliance Checker.
Disclaimer: This tool composes GS1-formatted strings for reference. Verify GTIN allocation and barcode encoding with GS1 before production printing. Runs entirely in your browser.
About the GS1 Digital Link builder
Build a GS1 element string and a GS1 Digital Link address from GTIN, batch, expiry and serial for pack QR codes.
How to use it
- Enter the 14-digit GTIN of the product.
- Add the batch or lot (10), expiry date (17) and serial number (21) you want on the pack.
- Copy the element string for your barcode printer or the Digital Link address for a QR code.
Questions and answers
What is GS1 Digital Link?
A GS1 standard that writes product identifiers such as GTIN, batch and serial as a web address, so one QR code can be read by retail scanners and opened by a phone.
Can a GS1 Digital Link code prove a pack is genuine?
Not on its own. It identifies the product. To prove the pack came from its maker, the code also needs a signature, which is what FirstScanIt adds.
Which data does the builder send to a server?
None. The address is built in your browser.