What is Barcode?

A barcode is a symbol consisting of many lines of different thicknesses. It is found on many products and this symbol affixed to the products is read by the reader. All information about the product is written on these symbols consisting of lines. The question “What is a barcode” can be explained as follows:

  • It is a kind of identification of the product on which it is affixed. All information about the product is contained in this symbol and is displayed after the reader has read it.
  • One of the most widely used areas of barcode today is grocery stores. These barcodes contain price information in addition to information about the product.
  • The barcode system, which creates trust in customers, is used in many different business lines.
  • These barcodes affixed on the product can be read by a single barcode reader anywhere in the world.
  • It is possible to access many different information about all products coming from various places only thanks to the barcode reader.

Apart from retail, barcodes are also widely used in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and public areas.

What are the Barcode Types?

Barcodes are symbols that are widely used in many fields. Therefore, there are many types of barcodes. Barcode NO is a software in which lines of different thickness are created at regular intervals and in which numbers 0-9, letters in the alphabet and some signs are included. There are many types of barcodes due to its widespread use in the world.

  • UPC barcode meaning indicates its use by US and Canadian companies. It is a 12-digit international barcode number that can be opened as Universal Product Code.
  • The EAN barcode, on the other hand, is the type of barcode common in European countries used for the purpose of promoting retail products.
  • The EAN 13 barcode consists of 13 digits and 4 parts. The first part indicates which country the barcode comes from, and ten digits are included as the control number.
  • The EAN 8 barcode is similar to the EAN 13 barcode. Only the second part is the code given by the company.
  • The ITF code is used in the packaging industry. It is a type of barcode consisting of even numbers.
  • CODE 39 is the most widely used barcode type, consisting of both numbers and letters. It is a commercial and industry standard.
  • CODE 128 is used in distribution, order, transportation areas.

Basically, barcode systems are divided into two as one-dimensional and two-dimensional. One-dimensional barcodes consist of vertically oriented lines of varying thickness. Double-dimensional barcodes, on the other hand, are barcodes that are printed inside a square or rectangular shape. Commonly used barcodes are UPC, EAN, EAN8, EAN 13, CODE 128.

What Does a Barcode System Do?

The Barcode system is widely used around the world and has international meaning. This aspect brings with it many advantages. Barcodes work by holding barcode readers for just a few seconds. A red signal is sent and the information in the barcode is easily read. The advantages of barcodes are:

  • It provides clear and reliable information about products.
  • It ensures that all information about the products is transferred to the computer only thanks to the barcode query system.
  • Especially in commercial areas such as markets, it allows things to run much faster. The officer sees the information on the barcode and things go much more practically.
  • Barcode systems, which are widely used in transportation, distribution and warehouse works, enable the process to be processed faster by processing the product number and price information data of the products. In this respect, time is saved in jobs that require speed.
  • The first three digits of the barcode system indicate which country the barcode came from. The next four digits are the code of the producing company. The next five digits are determined as the code in which the information about the product is defined.
  • The product barcode read by the barcode reader does not only provide information about the price of the product. It also makes it drop out of stock automatically. In this way, you can easily learn how many products are left in stock without counting.
  • Reliability also increases thanks to the barcode label containing information about the product.

The Benefits of Using a Barcode Scanner and a Barcode Printer

Barcode reader is a tool that allows reading all barcodes of different types and in different areas. It performs the reading process thanks to the signals it sends by holding the barcodes for a few seconds. In general, barcodes provide the following benefits:

  • It provides the serial number, product information and other necessary information to be transmitted to the computer environment. Thanks to the barcode reader system, the data entries of the products are carried out quickly.
  • The workload is lightened, the work progresses faster, customer satisfaction is gained. It is also one of the great and reliable measures against theft.
  • Barcode scanner systems can have different types. They can be in the form of a USB connection, keyboard, or serial port and are preferred depending on their usage areas. The subject of “How to create a barcode” is done by determining the text by barcode printers and then printing the barcodes.
  • This system, in which barcode labels are printed, can be with or without ribbons for printing in different colors.
  • Barcodes created by barcode printers are attached to the products. While ensuring product reliability, it also provides document, archive and stock information.

While mobile printer barcodes are widely used in warehouse and manufacturing areas, desktop printers are generally preferred in businesses. Industrial printers also have features such as high print quality, ability to work under difficult conditions and long-term use. For those wondering “How to get a barcode”; First of all, they need to become a member of the National Goods Numbering Center and get their barcode number from there.