Have you ever noticed those black and white vertical lines accompanied by codes on product packaging? That’s a barcode. Barcodes are codes that are useful for storing specific data such as production codes, expiration dates, or identification numbers.
Their form is very simple, but they are useful for storing data or information about an item. Barcodes are still frequently used in business because scanning barcodes is easy and fast.
Want to know more about how to scan barcodes? Let’s dive into this article!
Understanding Barcodes
A barcode, as visually represented, is a series of vertical black and white lines of varying thicknesses. These lines aren’t random; they represent data that can be read by scanners. Beyond retail, barcodes are integral to various industries for inventory management, tracking, and data capture. In addition to the lines, barcodes also include numbers that provide information about an item. These numbers typically include:
Number System Character (NSC)
The Number System Character (NSC) is a digit in the UPC (Universal Product Code) barcode system that indicates specific types of barcodes. UPC is widely used in industries, especially in America & Canada. Within a UPC barcode, the NSC is usually located at the far left. Here’s what each digit signifies:
- 0: Standard UPC number
- 1: Reserved
- 2: Random weight items
- 3: Pharmaceuticals
- 4: In-store code for retailers
- 5: Coupons
- 6: Standard UPC number
- 7: Standard UPC number
- 8: Reserved
- 9: Reserved
Guard Bars
There are three guard bars placed at the beginning, middle, and end of a barcode. The start and end guard bars are written as “bar-space-bar” or “101”. Meanwhile, the middle guard bar is written as “space-bar-space” or “01010”. These bars help the scanner correctly read the barcode.
Manufacturer Code
The Manufacturer Code consists of a five-digit number identifying the product’s company of origin. This code is assigned and protected by the Uniform Code Council, ensuring product traceability back to its source.
Product Code
The Product Code is made up of 5 digits assigned by the company for each product they produce. This code is unique to each product, differentiating it within the manufacturer’s catalog.
Check Digit
The check digit is positioned at the far right of the barcode. This digit is crucial for validation, ensuring the accuracy of all other digits read. It acts as an error detection mechanism.
Benefits of Barcodes
Barcodes offer numerous advantages, particularly for businesses. Here are some key benefits:
1. Accelerates Transaction Processes
Barcodes, printed directly on product packaging, significantly speed up data input compared to manual methods. This eliminates errors in manually typing product codes or numbers during transactions, leading to faster checkout times and improved customer satisfaction.
2. More Accurate Data Retrieval
Scanning barcodes makes data retrieval faster and more accurate. This enhances employee efficiency by enabling quicker and more precise operations. Accurate data is crucial for inventory management, sales tracking, and overall business analytics.
3. Versatile Applications
Barcodes aren’t limited to retail product labels in supermarkets. They are also used in book publishing, non-retail sectors, pharmaceuticals for drug identification, asset tracking, inventory control, laboratory data management, and even on identification cards or memberships. This versatility makes barcodes a universal tool for data management.
4. Cost Reduction
Barcodes are an economical solution due to their simplicity and low implementation cost. The materials used—paper and ink—are inexpensive. Barcode scanners are also widely available at relatively low prices. This cost-effectiveness makes barcode technology accessible to businesses of all sizes.
How to Scan Barcodes on Your Phone via Browser
The easiest way to scan barcodes is by using a browser, provided you have a stable internet connection. Here are the steps:
1. Scanning Barcodes on Your Phone with Google
Choose the device you want to use, whether it’s Android, a computer, or iPhone & iPad. Then, sign in to your Google Account on that device.
- If you are scanning a barcode with a phone, first open the camera application.
- Point the camera at the QR code. Then click the box that appears on your phone.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the sign-in process. If it doesn’t work, you can press “sign in another way.”
- If the device you are using is a computer, the QR code cannot be moved. So, you have to log in another way. One way is to use a link.
While Google’s method is mentioned in the original text, for direct barcode scanning via browser, dedicated online barcode scanner websites are more efficient. The text describes QR code scanning for Google login, which is related but not directly barcode scanning for product information. For pure barcode scanning via browser, the next method is more relevant.
2. Scanning Barcodes on Your Phone via QR Code Websites
- Open your browser and type webqr.com. You can also search for other QR scanning sites on the internet. While the website mentions “QR”, many such sites also support 1D barcodes.
- After that, open the camera and point it at the barcode you want to scan.
- The barcode result will appear automatically.
Alt Text: A smartphone user scanning a product barcode using a browser-based online barcode reader website, demonstrating the ease of access via mobile browsers.
How to Scan Barcodes on Your Phone Using Google Assistant
Barcodes can also be scanned using the built-in Google Lens available on Google Assistant. Here’s how:
1. Open Google Assistant
Long press the home button on your phone to open Google Assistant. You can also open it directly from the application.
2. Access Google Lens
Next, tap the Google Lens button. If you are using Google Lens for the first time, you need to activate and allow camera access first.
3. Start Scanning Barcodes
After that, point the camera at the barcode you want to scan. If it’s not successful, you can adjust the focus by tapping the screen until the barcode is clear. After that, the website or content of the barcode will appear.
Alt Text: An Android smartphone utilizing Google Lens feature within Google Assistant to scan a barcode, illustrating a convenient method for barcode recognition.
How to Scan Barcodes on Android Phones
Another way to scan barcodes is by using just your phone. By relying only on the built-in camera, you can scan barcodes. Here are the steps:
1. Open the Camera Application
Every phone certainly has a built-in camera application. Open the camera, then point it at the barcode. The location of the barcode scan menu may vary, depending on the type of phone. Many modern Android phones natively support barcode scanning directly through the camera app.
2. Open the Barcode Link
Once scanned, a destination link from the barcode will appear, you just click on the link. In some cases, the information might be directly displayed instead of a link, depending on the barcode type and content.
Alt Text: An Android phone user scanning a barcode with the built-in camera application, highlighting the ease of use and accessibility of native scanning features.
How to Scan Barcodes on iPhones
Similar to Android, you can use the camera to scan barcodes on iPhones. Here are the steps:
1. Using the Camera
- Open the default camera application.
- Position your iPhone over the barcode until the code appears on the screen.
- Tap the pop-up that appears on the screen to open the destination site. iPhones have had native barcode scanning capabilities in their camera app for several iOS versions.
2. Using Control Center
- Open settings on your iPhone.
- Then, click the Control Center menu, then click the insert button. You need to add the “Code Scanner” to your Control Center if it’s not already there.
- Then position your iPhone so that the code appears on the screen.
- Tap the pop-up that appears on the screen to open the destination site. This method offers quick access to the barcode scanner directly from the Control Center.
Alt Text: An iPhone user scanning a barcode with the native camera application, demonstrating the straightforward process on iOS devices.
Can All Phones Scan Barcodes?
Some older phones or phones with less advanced cameras may not be able to scan barcodes automatically. However, now there are many barcode scanner applications that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or App Store. Examples include QR & Barcode Scanner, or QR & Barcode Reader. These apps utilize the phone’s camera to decode barcode information.
For most modern smartphones, barcode scanning is a standard feature. Whether through the native camera app, Google Lens, or dedicated scanning applications, accessing barcode information is readily available.
So, scanning barcodes is easy with various options, you can use a browser, application or built-in camera. Very easy, isn’t it? Hope this information is helpful!
(elk/fds) reference
