Abstract: A method for reading a one-dimensional optical code, wherein image data including the code are captured and a plurality of grayscale value profiles through the code are obtained from the image data, a black-and-white profile is formed from the grayscale value profiles by binarization, and the code content of the code is read from the black-and-white profile, wherein, for preparing the binarization, a sharpened grayscale value profile is first generated from the plurality of grayscale value profiles, the sharpened grayscale value profile having, as compared to the original image data, increased resolution, sharper edges, and more pronounced extrema, and the sharpened grayscale value profile is binarized to form the black-and-white profile.