EPL (Eltron Programming Language)

The Original Label Language

Before ZPL became the king of labels, there was EPL. Originally created by Eltron (which Zebra later bought), this language is a set of simple text commands. It was designed to work on printers with very little memory. Even though it's old, thousands of reliable desktop printers still use it every day.

EPL vs. ZPL

EPL (specifically EPL2) is simpler than ZPL. While ZPL can do fancy things like scaling fonts and complex graphics, EPL is very 'line-by-line.' However, for a basic 4x6 shipping label, EPL is still fast and effective. Most modern Zebra printers are 'bilingual' and can understand both ZPL and EPL.

• Commonly used by older desktop printers (like the LP2844).
• Line-based, simple command structure.
• Very efficient for high-speed, text-only labels.

When Will You See It?

You might encounter EPL if you are using older warehouse equipment or specific thermal printers that were popular 10-15 years ago. If you send a ZPL file to an EPL-only printer, it will just spit out blank labels or weird text. You need to make sure your software matches your printer's 'language.'

Compatibility Tip

If you are buying a used printer, check if it supports ZPL. While EPL works, most modern e-commerce tools and shipping platforms have moved to ZPL because it handles barcodes and graphics much better. It's usually worth upgrading to a printer that speaks the modern language.