Definition
Barcode
A barcode is a machine-readable pattern of bars and spaces that encodes a number or short text so a scanner can identify an item without typing.
Retail products carry UPC or EAN barcodes. Internal labels often use Code 39 or Code 128, which can hold letters as well as digits, so a SKU like TEE-BLK-M can be printed directly. QR codes are two-dimensional barcodes that hold more data and scan from any angle.
A barcode does not contain the product's name or price. It is only an identifier; the description lives in the system that looks it up.
In Inventory Now
The camera reads UPC, EAN, Code 39, Code 128 and QR codes. Hardware scanners work through the search bar.
Barcode scanningRelated terms
