{"id":2147,"date":"2024-07-31T07:37:03","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T07:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlqr.com\/resource\/?p=2147"},"modified":"2024-08-07T07:40:29","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T07:40:29","slug":"what-is-a-barcode-and-how-does-it-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlqr.com\/resource\/what-is-a-barcode-and-how-does-it-work\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a barcode and how does it work?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A barcode is a rectangular or square image consisting of parallel black lines and white spaces of varying widths. Modern retailers apply barcode management for quick product identification. That’s why this is a great inventory management solution. Furthermore, COVID-19 also accelerated the adoption of barcode readers as a contactless solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Grandview Research, the global barcode reader market size was $6.79 billion in 2020 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% from 2021 to 2028. However, It can be very difficult to understand the definition of barcodes and how they work. Therefore, this article will clarify \u201cWhat is a barcode?\u201d and how you can apply it to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n

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What is barcode?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Answer the question “What is a barcode?” A barcode is a computer-readable representation of numbers and characters. Barcodes typically consist of parallel black and white bars of varying widths that can be read by barcode scanners. But what does barcode mean in retail? Nowadays, you can easily see stripes like the one below on product packaging at retail stores, convenience stores, and supermarkets. After collecting the information, the barcode scanner transmits the barcode number information in real time to the POS hardware without additional human intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, barcodes help retailers automate data collection processes and reduce human error when tracking inventory and processing point-of-sale (POS) transactions. Additionally, barcodes are essential in a retailer’s purchasing process and inventory control process at its warehouse. From there, you can track inventory, assist accountants with invoicing, and many other uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is a barcode structured?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The composition of common barcodes is standard in every country and can be read by inventory managers. Traditional barcodes include the following 3 components:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empty area (boundary)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The blank area is an empty margin located at both ends of the barcode. If the blank area is not large enough, the scanner will have difficulty reading the barcode. Therefore, the minimum margin distance from the outermost bar of one symbol to the outermost bar of another symbol is 2.5 mm.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Black line<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black lines are characters that represent the start\/end of data. These characters will vary slightly depending on the barcode type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Code<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The code is a digit used to authenticate the barcode. Thanks to its symbolic check character, you can check whether the barcode data encoded in the barcode is correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do barcodes work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although you probably see barcodes every day and already know what they are, have you ever wondered how they work? Here’s how barcodes work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, the barcode scanner will use an incandescent light bulb or laser to shine light through the barcode and then shine it on the ultra-sensitive light detector.
The black lines on the barcode absorb light and the white parts of the barcode shine through and reflect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scanner detects the amount of light which is then converted into data that can be read by a computer. For example, black parts that do not reflect well are recorded as 1, and white parts are recognized by the light scanner as 0.
Inventory management software will receive and decode this information on the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now you know about lines, but what about the underlying identifiers? All barcodes will have 12 digits, usually printed below as a precaution for possible complications. Here is the meaning of the barcode numbers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n