All You Wanted To Know About Barcode Readers

A barcode is an optical machine readable representation of data that usually describes something about the object that carries the barcode. The initial one dimensional barcodes were used to represent simple bits of data but over time and growing need, two dimensional barcodes can be used to represent more bits of data.

A barcode reader is a device used to read barcodes that uses a laser beam that is sensitive to the reflections from the line and space thickness and variation. The reader takes this light and transforms into digital data that is transferred to the computer for detailed storage.

Barcodes are printed inexpensively and generated more easily than other inventory management methods. They are used for inventory management, tracking products and check out things like books and other rentals. They are also used to track shipping and tabulate results of the product and its details

Barcodes have many code standards that serve for different industries based on their varied needs. Here are some of the famous standards

Uniform Product Code (UPC)

The UPC was developed in 1973 and is regulated by the Uniform Code Council. Usually used in retail stores for sales checkout, inventory management and stock limitation, this is the most commonly used and seen format of barcodes

European Article Number (EAN)

The system was developed by Joe Woodland who invented the first barcode system, allowing an extra pair of digits. It is the superset of the UPC that allows country identification using the extra digits

Japanese Article Number (JAN)

This is the type of EAN that is used Japan

POSTNET

The POSTNET is used in the United States of America for zip codes in bulk mailing. This is the common standard that encodes zip codes for U S Mail.

Code 39 (code 3 of 9) and Code 128

Code 39 is used in the identification, inventory and tracking of shipments. The Code 128 is used in the place of Code 39 mainly because it is more compact.

Interleaved 2 of 5

The interleaved 2 of 5 is used in shipping and warehouse industries.

Codabar and Bookland

While the Bookland is based on ISBN and is used on book covers, the Codabar is used by Federal Express, in libraries and in blood backs

MICR

The Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) is designed specifically for identification and other purposes on the bottom of the bank checks.

Optical Character Recognition

Optical Character Recognition is of two types, the OCR-A is used on book covers to form the human readable version of the ISBN whereas the OCR-B is used for the human readable version of UPC, EAN, Han and bookland, including the code 39.

While the standards themselves are not considered mandatory, they are commonly used for uniformity. With the advent of the QR codes and data matrices that used shapes and symbols in addition to lines, the standards also differed.

Overall, no matter what the type and size of barcodes, they have been one of the most efficient means of tracking and inventory management, completely changing the way the various industries worked.

Online barcode companies like SA Barcodes generate barcodes for sale, including barcode numbers and options to buy barcodes.

About The Author

Jennifer Greene is a post-graduate student in Business Management, who specializes in logistics, inventory, procurement and sales. She has written many articles on inventory management, and believes www.sabarcodes.co.za to be a very good source of information and online barcodes.

Jennifer Greene is a post-graduate student in Business Management, who specializes in logistics, inventory, procurement and sales. She has written many articles on inventory management, and believes www.sabarcodes.co.za to be a very good source