Category: 1D Symbologies
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
A UPC (Universal Product Code) is one of the oldest and most widely used barcodes, particularly in retail on consumer products.
It is a linear, one-dimensional barcode symbology characterized by its pattern of vertical stripes – a single set of varying-width black lines and white spaces.
UPC codes were originally developed to automate the retail check-out process. Their invention overcame the need to manually enter product information into a database, saving time and improving accuracy. Commercial use of UPC codes began in 1974.
They are still widely used today, although eventually it’s likely the UPC will be replaced by the more powerful 2D Data Matrix and QR codes through the GS1 Sunrise 2027 initiative.
Characteristics of a UPC barcode
- Encodes a Global Trade Identification Number (GTIN).
- Contains 12 (UPC-A) or 6 (UPC-E) numerical digits.
- Last digit serves as a mod10 checksum.
- Uses a parity scheme for its data characters.
- Can store additional data in an EAN-2 or EAN-5 add-on code.
- Standardized use through the ISO/IEC DIS 15420 international standard.
Compatibility
A wide variety of devices can read UPC barcodes. While the first barcode scanners were laser-based, today any smart device with a camera can read a UPC barcode, if the right software is installed.
Scandit’s barcode scanning software supports all major barcode types, including UPC-A and UPC-E barcodes.
Regarding UPC barcode scanners specifically, the Scandit Barcode Scanner SDK:
- Supports color inversion.
- Has a mandatory mod10 checksum.
- Enables scanning codes with quiet zones (white area before and after the code) that are significantly smaller than the symbology specification allows.
- The first digit is always zero and can be removed on demand.
- UPC-E representation can be automatically converted to the UPC-A format.
Scandit’s software also supports all major operating systems, programming languages, frameworks, 3rd party systems and OEM devices including React Native, Native iOS, Native Android, JavaScript, Xamarin, Flutter, .NET (iOS and Android), Cordova, Capacitor, Titanium, IBM MobileFirst, SAP Fiori and Oracle Xstore.
UPC code application areas
UPC barcodes are used extensively in warehousing and in retail to scan and price consumer products at the point of sale. They are used primarily in the US and Canada but also in other parts of the world, including the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
UPC Code Variations:
There are two variants of the UPC barcode:
- UPC-A stores 12 digits which form the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number). The first digit encodes information about the product type, the following five digits about the product manufacture and the next five about the specific product. The last digit is a checksum digit.
- UPC-E (also known as the ‘zero suppressed’ version of the UPC-A) has six digits, making it more compact and suitable for smaller products.