Barcode

A barcode is a machine-readable representation of data encoded in patterns of lines, spaces, or shapes. Scanners decode those patterns into information such as product identifiers or tracking data.

Barcode scanner: A device that reads barcode patterns and converts them into digital data. Scanners measure reflected light or image patterns to recover the data encoded in a barcode.
Global Trade Item Number: A GS1 identifier used to identify trade items such as products and packages. Many retail barcodes encode a GTIN to identify a product consistently across businesses.
QR code: A two-dimensional barcode that encodes data in a square grid of modules. QR codes extend barcode use to URLs and other data that exceed typical linear symbols.
Norman Joseph Woodland: An American inventor who co-developed an early barcode system with Bernard Silver. Woodland's work helped establish the idea of encoding product information in optically readable marks.
Point of sale: The place and process where a customer pays for goods or services. Barcode scanning made rapid, automated product lookup a standard checkout operation.
Quiet zone: A blank margin around a barcode that separates it from nearby marks. This clear margin helps a scanner identify where the barcode begins and ends.
International Article Number: A product identifier commonly encoded in retail barcodes outside North America. The EAN-13 symbol encodes an International Article Number in a familiar retail format.
Code 128: A high-density linear barcode symbology that encodes text and numbers. Code 128 is widely used for shipping labels and inventory tracking.
Bernard Silver: An American engineer who co-developed an early barcode system with Norman Joseph Woodland. Silver and Woodland pursued automated product identification after a grocery-industry request.
Inventory management: The planning and control of an organization's stock of goods and materials. Barcode scans record stock movements and support faster, more accurate inventory counts.

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