# USPS barcode updates **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [June 2, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-barcode-updates/406488 "2007-06-02T16:11:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-barcode-updates/406488/1 "2007-06-02T16:11:00Z")
[What do U.S. Postal Service bar codes mean?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_383.html) Perhaps this report needs some minor updating. > [@](#): > > The USPS is also implementing 11-digit ZIP codes. In theory every addressable location in the nation could have its own private ZIP code, although I gather the day when ZIP codes get as specific as phone numbers is still a ways off. They’re here. The barcode numbers are divided into these groups, and any printed code can contain only the ZIP (5 digits), ZIP plus (5+4 digits) or DPT (Delivery Point, 5+4+2=11 digits). FYI, the postnet barcode also appends a checkdigit for each configuration. The 9 ZIP plus digits are sufficient to narrow the address range to a single side of a single block in a typical neighborhood. Large mailers may have their own ZIPs, and large office buildings may have several. The DPT’s final 2 digits are usually created from the final 2 digits of an address. For example, if you live at 123 Anywhere Street, ZIP 94235-3425, “23” would be appended to 94235-3425, derived from the “123” of your address. This is sufficient to give you a number for your house only, about “as specific as phone numbers.” ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-barcode-updates/406488/2 "2007-06-02T20:31:58Z")
This is actually one of Cecil’s columns, rather than a Staff report, so I’m moving to the approp forum. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-barcode-updates/406488/3 "2007-06-02T20:57:51Z")
Sorry, Dex. My mistake. ---
**Author:** ![tkil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@tkil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tkil)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-barcode-updates/406488/4 "2007-06-07T05:17:32Z")
They also bar-code their buildings. I sat down and decoded this one, and it actually does match the facility: [http://scrye.com/~tkil/photos/2001/2001-11/2001-11-08-la-robin\_and\_david/med/med-1632.html](http://scrye.com/~tkil/photos/2001/2001-11/2001-11-08-la-robin_and_david/med/med-1632.html) ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-barcode-updates/406488/5 "2007-06-10T06:28:52Z")
[QUOTE=tkil] They also bar-code their buildings. I sat down and decoded this one, and it actually does match the facility: [http://scrye.com/~tkil/photos/2001/2001-11/2001-11-08-la-robin\_and\_david/med/med-1632.html](http://scrye.com/~tkil/photos/2001/2001-11/2001-11-08-la-robin_and_david/med/med-1632.html) [/QUOTE] That is cool! I’m surprised anyone associated with designing/approving a (quasi-) government building has such a clever sense of humor.