What are EAN/UPC barcodes?
EAN (European Article Number) and UPC (Universal Product Code) are types of barcodes used globally for tracking products in retail settings. They are essential for product identification, stock management, and point-of-sale (POS) scanning.
1. EAN Barcode:
- EAN stands for European Article Number, although it is now used worldwide.
- Structure: The most common format is the EAN-13, which consists of 13 digits. It includes:
- Country code (first 2-3 digits) identifying the country of the company that registered the barcode.
- Manufacturer code (next 3-6 digits) identifying the product manufacturer.
- Product code (following 4-5 digits) identifying the specific product.
- Check digit (last digit) used to verify the accuracy of the entire number.
- Usage: EAN codes are more common in Europe, but they are also accepted in other regions, including North America. There is also an EAN-8 version, which is a shorter code (8 digits) used for smaller products.
2. UPC Barcode:
- UPC stands for Universal Product Code.
- Structure: The most common UPC format is the UPC-A, which has 12 digits:
- Company prefix (first 6-10 digits) assigned by the GS1 organization.
- Item reference number (next 2-5 digits) assigned by the manufacturer to identify the product.
- Check digit (last digit) used for error detection.
- Usage: UPC codes are primarily used in the United States and Canada but are also widely recognized globally. The shorter version, UPC-E, is used for small packages and has 8 digits.
Key Differences:
- Length: EAN-13 has 13 digits, while UPC-A has 12 digits.
- Geography: EAN is more common in Europe and other parts of the world, while UPC is widely used in North America.
- Compatibility: Most modern systems can read both EAN and UPC barcodes, making them interchangeable in most global markets.
Both barcode systems are part of the GS1 system, which ensures global standardization for product identification and allows for smooth international trade and retail operations. More info.
