What is a UPC or GS1 Barcode?

The barcode you see most often in an American retail store is a UPC barcode. UPC stands for Universal Product Code. It was originally created for grocery stores. The use of UPC barcodes reduced check-out times and data entry errors as well as improved inventory control. The UPC barcode was so successful that it was quickly adopted throughout the retail industry.

UPC barcodes encode a 12-digit numeric code called GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) that is unique for each product. This ensures that a television does not have the same barcode as a can of soda, for example. It eliminates any confusion or shrinkage at the register.

The first part of the UPC barcode is the GS1 Company Prefix. That is a unique six-digit number that can be used by only one company worldwide. GS1 Company Prefixes are assigned to American companies by the GS1 US (previously called the Universal Code Council, or UCC).

The product manufacturer designates the following five numbers in the UPC barcode. The final digit is a check digit. It is used to detect errors through a type of redundancy check.

GS1 DataBar barcodes were designed for items that are difficult to label, like jewelry, fresh produce, and cosmetics. They encode more data in less space than UPC barcodes. GS1 DataBar was initially called Reduced Space Symbology, or RSS, because of its compact nature.

Besides encoding the GTIN, GS1 DataBar barcodes can hold lot numbers, expiration dates, and serial numbers. These GS1 Application Identifiers, as they are called, make it easier to authenticate and trace products. It is already being used on grocery coupons and will soon be seen on medicine, cosmetics, magazines, and all kinds of fresh foods, such as meat, fish, poultry, and produce.

There are six different types of GS1 DataBar barcodes. Three of them are stacked barcodes, which are designed to be read by omnidirectional scanners.

• GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional can be scanned regardless of its orientation to the scanner, which improves checkout time. It encodes 14-digit Global Trade Item Numbers (GTIN).
• GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional holds the same data has a GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional, but in two rows stacked on each other. This reduces the length needed to print the barcode, making it ideal for small packages.
• GS1 DataBar Truncated shortens the height of a normal GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional barcode. Because of its height truncation, it should be read with a handheld scanner, like a laser scanner, linear imager, or even a wand scanner.
• GS1 DataBar Stacked takes the GS1 DataBar Truncated, divides it in two rows, and stacks them on top of each other. It is used where the printable area is very narrow.
• GS1 DataBar Limited can hold the same data as the GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional, but is not meant for omnidirectional scanning. The encoding process is different and the barcode can be made very small. The other difference is the Indicator Digit, which designates the type of packaging (single item vs. case), is limited to two choices.
• GS1 DataBar Expanded encodes up to 41 alpha or 74 numeric characters and can be used with omnidirectional scanners. Typically, it will hold the 14-digit GTIN and some GS1 Application Identifiers, such as lot number, serial number, and expiration date.
• GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked is just like the GS1 DataBar Expanded, except that the data is divided in two stacked rows. It is ideal where a lot of data must be encoded in a small space.