This disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for marking a data matrix code in the form of an n*m cell matrix of light and dark cells, which respectively consist of a light or dark s*t pixel matrix, on a workpiece by a laser beam, wherein a laser processing unit directs the laser beam onto the workpiece, scans, pixel row by pixel row, the workpiece region to be marked, respectively with a constant marking speed and alternately in opposite directions, and wherein the light pixels and/or the dark pixels are marked on the workpiece during the scan by temporarily switching on the laser beam, wherein the laser processing unit is guided from an already scanned pixel row along a curve having a diameter of which is at least two times the pixel row spacing, to the next pixel row to be scanned.