How Do Barcodes Work?

Barcodelive
2 min readDec 5, 2022

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Barcodes function by expressing numbers, letters, or special characters with vertical lines that are purposely spaced apart and may be read by a barcode reader device or a smartphone with a suitable barcode scanning app.

QR codes, for example, are square and have more complicated coding that mimics pixel artwork.

To successfully scan a barcode, you’ll need a device that can scan the code as well as a system that can understand and read the data.

In a store, for example, a clerk might utilize the business’s barcode scanner to generate information on an item, such as its name and price.

The store’s scanner is programmed to read a certain barcode format (perhaps a UPC barcode), and it is linked to a product database represented by those barcodes.

If you use that store’s barcode scanner on a book’s ISBN barcode, you’ll almost certainly receive an error.

It’s because the gadget isn’t set up to read ISBN barcodes and isn’t connected to the correct database to assist it understand any information.

Note: Using the incorrect scanner on a barcode is like dialing someone’s phone number using their ZIP code. Each system uses a unique collection of codes and numbers.

See more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsjdQfjEbfQ

What are the numbers on barcodes?

When you understand what the 12 numbers indicate, you can read a barcode manually.

The Global Trade Item Number is the row of numbers seen on a barcode (GTIN).

The first six digits are the GS1 Company Prefix, a unique identity granted to your company by GS1 US, the group that created barcode standards. The prefix is used to identify your firm globally.

The product being offered is identified by the next five numbers. When a product is connected with your GS1 Company Prefix, it is issued a unique number.

A check digit is the last number. This check digit ensures that your GTIN is successfully generated. It is computed from the preceding 11 digits rather than being assigned at random.

See more: https://barcodelive.org/how-to-read-a-barcode

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