When making a payment using a Brazilian "boleto" (a popular type of payment slip), you'll encounter two main ways to input the payment information: the Digitable Line and the Barcode. While they serve the same purpose—enabling payment—they differ in format and how they are used.Digitable Line (Linha Digitável)#
What it is: A long sequence of numbers, typically grouped into several blocks. This line is a numerical representation of all the data contained within the barcode.
How it's used: Primarily for manual input. You would type this sequence into an internet banking portal, a mobile banking app, or at some ATMs.
Content: It encodes all essential payment details, such as the beneficiary, bank, due date, amount, and other reference numbers.
Key Feature: Human-readable (though complex) and designed for manual entry when scanning isn't an option.
Barcode (Código de Barras)#
What it is: A graphical representation of parallel lines and spaces that encodes the same payment information found in the digitable line.
How it's used: Designed for quick and accurate machine reading. It's typically scanned using:Barcode readers at bank tellers, lottery houses, or supermarkets.
The camera function within mobile banking apps.
Content: Identical to the digitable line in terms of the underlying payment data it represents.
Key Feature: Machine-readable, offering speed and reducing errors associated with manual typing.
Key Differences Summarized#
| Feature | Digitable Line (Linha Digitável) | Barcode (Código de Barras) |
|---|
| Format | Sequence of numbers | Graphical pattern of lines and spaces |
| Input Method | Manual typing | Scanning (optical reader or camera) |
| Primary Use | Online banking, apps (manual input) | ATMs, point-of-sale scanners, app cameras |
| Readability | Human-readable (for typing) | Machine-readable |
In essence: Both the digitable line and the barcode contain the same core information needed to process your boleto payment. The digitable line allows you to type this information if you can't scan the barcode, while the barcode offers a faster, automated way for systems to capture it. Modified at 2025-05-20 00:11:15
