What are the different types of bar codes and what are they used for?
Bar codes have come a long way since their debut at an Ohio supermarket in 1972 and today touch just about every aspect of our lives from the corner store to our driver’s license. A bar code doesn’t contain any descriptive data (such as color, cut or clarity). Instead, a bar code contains a reference number that is encoded in the combination of black and white bars and spaces of varying widths. There are over 100 different bar code symbologies that have evolved over the past 30 years to accommodate the needs of different industries. The following are some of the most common types of bar code symbologies that chances are you’ve encountered. UPC/EAN UPC bar codes are used in the U.S. and Canada on items bound for the retail checkout line. UPC symbols are numeric only and fixed lengths. Code 39 (widely used in the jewelry industry) Code 39 is the most popular bar code, having a variable length and encodes the alphabet and numbers as well as being printed in a variety of sizes. Code 39 is
