Abstract: A system and a method for automatically analyzing and reading a barcode present in an electronically stored and transferred file, and/or printed on a printable substrate, such as a sheet of paper. Such a barcode can be used to store a large amount of information in a small area. Various uses of the disclosed system and method are possible, for example in order to authenticate and/or identify a document. In addition, such a barcode could be used to transmit information which could be automatically read and analyzed. This provides a single solution to the combined problems of data authentication and verification for electronically stored and transferred data, as well as of automatic reading and analysis of data printed on a printable substrate. Although the implementation in which the data is printed onto paper or other physical substrate material is particularly preferred, the overall flexibility of the disclosed system and method enable them to be employed in a variety of embodiments.