How do bar codes work?

In a nutshell, a barcode is a way to encode information into a visual pattern (those black lines and white spaces) that a machine (a barcode scanner) can read. ... A barcode scanner will read this pattern of black and white bars and translate them into a line of test that your retail point of sale system can understand.

1. What information does a barcode hold?
2. What do the numbers mean on a barcode?
3. How do I get the product information from a barcode?
4. Can a human read a barcode?
5. What do the bars in a bar code represent?
6. How did the concept of bar code started?
7. Can barcode scanners read all barcodes?
8. Can you tell where something was bought by the barcode?
9. Is there a database of product barcodes?

What information does a barcode hold?

Barcode contains information about a product like; price & weight of the product, date of manufacturing and expiry, name of the manufacturer etc. Barcode is allocated by an international institution set up for this purpose. Every product has a unique barcode all over the world.

What do the numbers mean on a barcode?

UPC-A barcodes consist of 12 numbers. The first digit identifies the numbering system. The next five digits identify the manufacturer, while the second five digits identify the specific product. The last number is a check digit.

How do I get the product information from a barcode?

To get product information you'll need to use some database of products that's searchable by UPC. A quick google search came up with a few suggestions, such as https://www.barcodelookup.com/api .

Can a human read a barcode?

Although barcodes are designed to be "read" by scanners and interpreted by computers, it is possible with practice to look at a UPC barcode and translate it into a 12-digit number. ... Barcodes using non-UPC systems or different numbers of digits cannot be read using this method.

What do the bars in a bar code represent?

The bars are used to represent the binary digits 0 and 1, sequences of which in turn can represent numbers from 0 to 9 and be processed by a digital computer. The presence or absence of a bar of a particular width in a particular position in a sequence is read by the computer as either a 0 or 1.

How did the concept of bar code started?

Beginnings of the Bar Code

In 1949, a young graduate student was wrestling with the concept of automatically capturing information about a product. ... Three years later that graduate student Joseph Woodland and his partner received a patent on what began as lines in the sand, and the linear bar code was born.

Can barcode scanners read all barcodes?

Not all barcode scanners can read all barcodes. Laser barcode scanners and linear imagers read only 1D barcode scanners. Imager (camera-based) 2D barcode scanners read all common 1D and 2D barcodes.

Can you tell where something was bought by the barcode?

ANSWER: No, a barcode does not tell you where an item was manufactured. The number tells you what the item is, who owns the item and which GS1 office licensed the number.

Is there a database of product barcodes?

The International Barcodes Database is a GTIN (barcode number) and product database designed to provide product information based on barcode numbers (UPC or EAN formats). ... This database contains GTINs (barcode numbers) issued by the International Barcodes Network plus some other verified GTINs.