Barcode Technology

A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows certain data on certain products. Originally, barcodes represents data in the widths (lines) and the spacing of parallel lines, and it may be referred to as linear or 1D (1 dimensional) barcodes or symbols. They also come in patterns of squares, dots, hexagons and other geometric patterns within images termed 2D (2 dimensional) matrix codes or symbols.

Although 2D systems use symbols other than bars, they are generally referred to as barcodes as well. Barcodes can be read by optical scanners called barcodereaders, or scanned from an image by special software.Barcodes—especially the UPC—have slowly become an essential part of modern civilization. The use is widespre ad, and the technology behind barcodes is constantly improving.

Almost every item purchased from the grocery store, department store, and mass merchandiser has a UPC barcode on it. This greatly helps in keeping track of a large number of items in a store and it also reduce instances of shoplifting involving price tag swapping, although shoplifters can now print their own barcodes. Since the adoption of barcodes, both consumers and retailers have benefited from the savings generated.