How to integrate a barcode scanner in Bubble

The simplest reliable way to integrate barcode scanning in Bubble is to use the phone’s camera through a Bubble plugin (the most used is “Barcode Scanner” by Bubble.io) or embed a JavaScript library like QuaggaJS inside an HTML element. Bubble itself cannot read barcodes natively, so you either install a plugin or run JS that scans the stream from the device camera, then return the barcode value into a Bubble input or a custom state.

What You Actually Do in Bubble

You have two valid paths:

• Use a plugin – fastest, no code. Works on mobile browser or inside a native wrapper. Plugins handle the camera access and return the scanned value.
• Use a JavaScript library – more flexible. You load QuaggaJS inside an HTML element and use Toolbox’s “Run JavaScript” to push results back into Bubble.

Path 1: Using a Plugin (Beginner‑friendly)

Install the plugin “Barcode Scanner” (popular Bubble plugin). After installing:

• Place the Barcode Scanner element on the page.
• Add a button “Start Scan”. In its workflow, use the action Start scanning on the scanner element.
• Use the scanner’s event When BarcodeScanner A detects code.
• Inside that event, you receive This BarcodeScanner’s detected code. Save it to your database or put it into an input.

This works well for scanning product barcodes (EAN/UPC) with a mobile camera.

Path 2: Using QuaggaJS (More control)

This is for cases where you need more formats or custom UI. Steps:

• Add the Toolbox plugin (to run JavaScript).
• Place an HTML element that will host the camera feed.
• Load QuaggaJS from CDN inside the HTML element.

Example of a working minimal HTML element:

<div id="scanner"></div>
<script src="https://unpkg.com/quagga/dist/quagga.min.js"></script>
<script>
Quagga.init({
  inputStream: { type: "LiveStream", target: document.querySelector('#scanner') },
  decoder: { readers: ["ean_reader","code_128_reader"] }
}, function(err){
  if(!err){ Quagga.start(); }
});

Quagga.onDetected(function(result){
  bubble_fn_barcode(result.codeResult.code); // returns result to Bubble
});
</script>

In Bubble, create a JavaScript to Bubble element named bubble_fn_barcode. When it receives a code, you can trigger a workflow and store it.

Important Notes

• Mobile cameras work best; laptop webcams may struggle.
• Bubble preview requires https for camera access.
• For inventory apps, always store the scanned code as text.