EAN-13 is a reliable, compact barcode for everyday retail
An EAN (European Article Number, also called the International Article Number) barcode uses a GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) to uniquely identify products. Commonly used in supermarkets and retail stores, it lets retailers quickly scan and track items at checkout, simplifying inventory management and sales reporting. Assigning unique serial data requires registration with an authorized association.
EAN-13 is the European counterpart to the UPC-A barcode used in the United States, encoding one extra digit for a total of 13 compared to UPC-A's 12.
Understanding EAN-13 barcodes
Specifications: An EAN-13 barcode stores a total of 13 digits
- GS1 prefix (First 2 digits) – Identifies the product’s country of origin.
- Company number (Next 5 digits) – Identifies the brand or manufacturer.
- Item number (Next 5 digits) – Identifies the specific product.
- Check digit (1 digit) – Ensures accuracy of the code.
- Closing quiet zone (">" symbol) – Marks the end of the barcode.
Advantages: EAN-13 is widely used, easily recognized, and ideal for everyday retail transactions because it can be read by any barcode scanner. Its check digit helps ensure accuracy when entering the code manually. The numbers are combined mathematically to produce a single-digit outcome. If the check digit doesn’t match, the code has been entered incorrectly.
Disadvantages: The character limit on the EAN-13 barcode limits its potential uses. While it's fine for general supermarket use, it cannot identify more complex items.
Encoding type: Numeric ▪ Format: Multi-width ▪ Check Digit: Required
Typical usage: Retail & supermarkets in Europe
Related barcodes:
- UPC-A - The American equivalent of EAN-13.
- EAN-8 - A more condensed version of EAN-13, for smaller products.
Last Modified on01/01/2025
