Barcode

A barcode is a series of lines of varying thicknesses printed in a parallel sequence, with numeric code above or below the lines. Barcodes are printed onto paper or embedded into a product, and can only be read by a scanner or barcode reader.

A barcode reader emits a specific light frequency. When this light is directed at the barcode, a series of numeric values that are embedded in the code are displayed to the scanner, which then translates that input data into numbers and sends this information to the computer processor. Barcode software is used to translate the code into product information.

Any data linked to this code is located by the software. This information may include the product name, price, weight, manufacture, date created, issuer and receiver. Decreases in the price of computer memory and processors have increased the sophistication of the information available from a barcode.