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What is a barcode?

A barcode is simply data printed in a machine-readable format. A barcode scanner works by measuring the widths of the bars and the spaces in a barcode symbol. The white space is just as important as the dark bars!

What types of barcode symbol are there?

There are different types of barcode symbol depending upon the product or package and where the item is going to be scanned e.g. a supermarket checkout vs a warehouse. In this guide we describe the most commonly used types of barcodes and how they should be printed.

What is a GTIN?

The word "barcode" typically refers to the printed symbol or image (the black bars). A GTIN or Global Trade Item Number on the other hand is the official term for the "barcode number" printed under a symbol. A GTIN is created from a special prefix licenced to organisations by a GS1 office.