pyzbar
Read one-dimensional barcodes and QR codes from Python 2 and 3.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need barcode or QR code reading and can install the zbar library. The package is stable and permissively licensed, but dormant since 2022 with no recent updates—acceptable for a mature wrapper around a stable external library, but verify zbar library support for your platform before committing. No known vulnerabilities.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- The zbar shared library must be installed separately: brew install zbar (macOS) or sudo apt-get install libzbar0 (Linux).
- Windows wheels include it.
- On Windows, Visual C++ Redistributable Packages for Visual Studio 2013 may be required.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license (permissive) means you can use this freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions, though you must include the license notice.
last release 2022-03-15 (1613 days) · last repo commit 2023-10-13 · 827 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 2,804,189 downloads/mo, #2,881 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pyzbar
from pyzbar.pyzbar import decode
results = decode(image_data)
for r in results:
print(r.data, r.type, r.rect)- Whether the package is actively maintained or if dormancy signals abandonment risk for future Python versions
- Compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.10 (classifiers list only up to 3.10)
- Current zbar library version requirements and platform-specific installation complexity
What it is and what it does
pyzbar is a Python wrapper around the zbar barcode-reading library that decodes one-dimensional barcodes and QR codes from images. It accepts image data in multiple formats and returns structured results including the decoded data, barcode type, bounding rectangle, polygon points, orientation, and quality score. The package is pure Python and works across Python 2.7 and Python 3.5 through 3.10.
The main use case is extracting barcode information from images in applications that need to read physical barcodes or QR codes. It provides both the decoded content and precise spatial information about where barcodes appear in an image, making it useful for inventory systems, document scanning, or any workflow that processes barcode-labeled items. The package has minimal runtime dependencies but requires the external zbar library to be installed on your system.
Use it for
- Inventory or warehouse management systems that scan physical barcodes from photos or camera feeds
- Document processing pipelines that extract barcode data and location from scanned pages
- QR code extraction from images for ticketing, URL routing, or contact information
- Batch barcode reading from a directory of images with location-based filtering or validation
- Computer vision applications combining barcode detection with image processing workflows
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need barcode or QR code reading and can install the zbar library.
The package is stable and permissively licensed, but dormant since 2022 with no recent updates—acceptable for a mature wrapper around a stable external library, but verify zbar library support for your platform before committing. No known vulnerabilities.
Install
pyzbar on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel. Dormant since March 2022; last commit October 2023. Requires the zbar shared library installed separately on non-Windows systems (brew or apt-get), but Windows wheels include zbar DLLs.
The zbar shared library must be installed separately: brew install zbar (macOS) or sudo apt-get install libzbar0 (Linux). Windows wheels include it. On Windows, Visual C++ Redistributable Packages for Visual Studio 2013 may be required.
License in practice
MIT license (permissive) means you can use this freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions, though you must include the license notice.
Quickstart
pip install pyzbar
from pyzbar.pyzbar import decode
results = decode(image_data)
for r in results:
print(r.data, r.type, r.rect)Verify before relying
- Whether the package is actively maintained or if dormancy signals abandonment risk for future Python versions
- Compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.10 (classifiers list only up to 3.10)
- Current zbar library version requirements and platform-specific installation complexity
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagesenum34pathlib |
| Maintenance | Dormant 1,613 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 2,804,189 / month, #2,881 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Utilities |
Evidence: pyzbar-0.1.9-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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