A position measuring device including a code having a first code element and a second code element arranged one behind the other in a measuring direction, wherein each of the first and second code elements includes a first partial area and a second partial area, which are complementary to each other and are arranged sequentially in the measuring direction. A scanning device including a plurality of detector elements that scan the first and second code elements and for forming a first scanning signal within the first partial area of the first code element and a second scanning signal within the second partial area of the first code element. An evaluation unit including a comparison device, which compares the first scanning signal with the second scanning signal and forms binary information for the first code element as a function of the comparison.