To determine the positions of a code on a movable support, said support can be moved in a displacement direction relative to a sensor element comprising at least one sensor array in the vicinity of said array. The sensor array or arrays determine(s) the position of imaged code elements that can be differentiated from radiation in the vicinity of the sensor elements, the recorded values being read out in at least one read-out direction and positional values being determined from said values. The array or arrays is or are read out twice from opposite read-out directions, or one sensor pair consisting of two sensor arrays, is read out as a pair from opposite directions. Positional values are derived from the positions of the differentiated code elements and said values are averaged to provide a position with an improved accuracy. The accuracy can thus be increased by simple means.