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A retail store barcode is a machine-readable symbol that lets a scanner capture a product identifier—usually a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). The checkout system uses that identifier to find the matching product record, including its price. In the familiar UPC and EAN formats, the barcode is the pattern of bars and spaces; the GTIN is the number it represents.
Barcode, GTIN, UPC and EAN: what each term means
These terms are related, but they do not mean the same thing:
- Barcode: The scannable symbol printed on a package. A scanner reads it electronically using laser or image-based technology.
- GTIN: The product identifier encoded in the symbol. The digits printed below a UPC or EAN symbol are the human-readable version of that identifier.
- UPC and EAN: Familiar names for formats in the wider GS1 system. GTIN-12 is commonly called UPC and is used mostly in North America; GTIN-13 is commonly called EAN or JAN and is used mostly in Europe and elsewhere. GTIN-8 is used for smaller items. GS1 explains the distinction between GTINs and barcode symbols.
So a UPC is not simply another word for every barcode. It is one common format in a broader system that also includes symbols such as DataBar, DataMatrix and QR Code.
Does a retail barcode contain the price?
Usually, no. A standard EAN/UPC symbol carries the GTIN, not the store’s current price. When it is scanned, the point-of-sale (POS) system uses that identifier to retrieve the retailer’s product record and price. The price therefore comes from the store’s system, rather than being read from the ordinary barcode itself. GS1 describes EAN/UPC as the retail symbol family used for product identification and price lookup.
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Common retail barcode formats
| Format | Typical role | What it can carry |
|---|---|---|
| UPC-A / EAN-13 | Common symbols for retail checkout | A GTIN in the EAN/UPC family. |
| UPC-E / EAN-8 | Compact retail symbol forms, including use on smaller items | Associated with GTIN-12 or GTIN-8 use; EAN-8 is used for smaller items. |
| GS1 DataBar | Retail applications, including fresh foods | Some forms can include attributes such as weight, batch or expiry information. |
| GS1 DataMatrix / QR Code with GS1 Digital Link | Two-dimensional retail options | Can include a GTIN and additional data; Digital Link can also connect to online product information. |
| GS1-128 / ITF-14 | More often used in distribution and logistics than at ordinary retail checkout | Linear formats suited to supply-chain uses. |
For an item that will be scanned at retail POS, GS1 names EAN/UPC as the first symbol choice. Other formats may be appropriate for particular products or uses. See the GS1 EAN/UPC guidance and its barcode overview.
How a barcode scan works at checkout
- A scanner reads the bars and spaces, or captures the symbol as an image.
- The scanner sends the encoded identifier to the POS system.
- The POS system matches the GTIN to the retailer’s product record and uses that record for the transaction, including its price.
The barcode automates identification; the retailer’s system supplies the relevant record. GS1 says barcode symbols can be scanned using laser or image-based technology (GS1 Barcodes).
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What changes with two-dimensional retail barcodes?
Unlike a typical EAN/UPC symbol, a GS1-compliant 2D symbol can carry a GTIN alongside information such as a batch or lot number, serial number or expiration date. That extra data can support uses beyond basic item lookup, but it is useful at checkout only if the retailer’s scanners and POS software can read, process and use it.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesGS1 describes a voluntary transition toward 2D symbols at retail, not a completed universal replacement. Linear symbols will coexist during the transition, and products using retail 2D barcodes need a linear POS barcode until the stated scanning-capability threshold is met. The timing and practical compatibility depend on retailers’ equipment and systems. GS1’s 2D Barcodes at Retail Point-of-Sale Implementation Guideline is version 1.1.0; the guideline repository lists it as current, modified 2025-12-22.
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Why barcodes appear in different places on a product
The familiar checkout barcode is intended to identify a trade item at the point of sale. Other symbols may serve different purposes, such as identifying a case in distribution or carrying additional product attributes. GS1 distinguishes retail POS choices from linear formats more commonly used in supply-chain applications; the right symbol depends on where and how an item will be scanned.
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