MaxiCode is a public domain, machine-readable symbol system originally created and used by United Parcel Service. Suitable for tracking and managing the shipment of packages, it resembles a barcode, but uses dots arranged in a hexagonal grid instead of bars. MaxiCode has been standardised under ISO/IEC 16023.

A MaxiCode symbol (internally called "Bird's Eye", "Target", "dense code", or "UPS code") appears as a 1inch square, with a bullseye in the middle, surrounded by a pattern of hexagonal dots. It can store about 93 characters of information, and up to 8 MaxiCode symbols can be chained together to convey more data. The centered symmetrical bullseye is useful in automatic symbol location regardless of orientation, and it allows MaxiCode symbols to be scanned even on a package traveling rapidly.

MaxiCode symbology was released by UPS in 1992.

MaxiCode symbols using modes 2 and 3 include a "Structured Carrier Message" containing key information about a package. This information is protected with a strong Reed-Solomon error correction code, allowing it to be read even if a portion of the symbol is damaged. These fields include:

The structured portion of the message is stored in the inner area of the symbol, near the bull's-eye pattern. (In modes that do not include a structured portion, the inner area simply stores the beginning of the message.)

1. What does MaxiCode look similar to?
2. What does it use in a grid instead of bars?
3. Who created this system?
4. What is it primarily good for?
5. Can you name an alternative name for a MaxiCode symbol?
6. How large is this kind of symbol?
7. What's in the very center of it?
8. Can several of these symbols be hooked together?
9. For what?
10. How much can it store?
11. And how many can be hooked together?
12. Where is the message stored on the symbol?
13. How about a structured portion of a message?
14. What modes include these structured messages?
15. Is that information protected?
16. With what?
17. Can it be read if it's damaged?
18. What kind of info is in these structured messages?
19. When did this system come out?
20. Is it public domain?

Numbered answers:
1. a barcode
2. dots
3. UPS
4. tracking the shipment of packages
5. Bird's Eye
6. 1" square
7. a bullseyes
8. Yes
9. to convey more data
10. 93 characters of information
11. Eight
12. In the inner area of the symbol
13. also in the inner area of the symbol, near the bull's eye pattern
14. both modes 2 and 3
15. Yes
16. Reed-Solomon ECC
17. Yes
18. key information about a package
19. 1992
20. Yes