It works like this: after scanning the code, the reader performs a simple check sum (mathematical calculation) over the 1s and 0s of the message, and compares this value to the check sum within the barcode itself (which was calculated before the barcode was generated) – if they do not match, the scan is rejected because some of the 1s and 0s in the message must have been changed. This ensures that a barcode will be rejected if it cannot be read correctly (e.g. After scanning, the lines or pixels are ‘translated’ by the computer into binary data, a series of 1s and 0s.Ĭrucially, all barcodes contain an error detection system (the check sum in the image above). Since computers process binary data, every line or pixel in a barcode represents a 1 or a 0. In other words, a scanner reading a barcode is like a person reading a sentence. In simple terms, barcodes are a visual language that is recognised by computers. Since then, their influence has spread to encompass virtually any identification system that can be processed by a machine.Ī common 1D barcode known as EAN-13 How Do Barcodes Work? They achieved commercial success in the 1990s, when they were adapted to be used on consumer goods such as supermarket food items. A Brief History of Barcodesīarcodes, in their 1D format, were first developed in the rail industry to label railroad cars for automated tracking. Therefore, in order to make the most use of this new technology, a basic understanding is very advantageous. You can now see them on movie posters, pay for your coffee with them, or even use them as a train ticket. While conventional 1D barcodes have existed on everyday consumer items for some time, we are now see 2D barcodes as a common feature of the world around us. Connecting the Dots: An Introduction to 2D BarcodesĪs the growth of sophisticated mobile devices becomes ever more pronounced in modern society, barcodes have emerged as a channel through which these devices communicate and relay information for us.
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