What does a UPC code tell you?

‘UPC’ stands for Universal Product Code, a unique 12-digit number assigned to retail merchandise that identifies both the product and the vendor that sells the product.

Is UPC the same as barcode?

The UPC on a product typically appears adjacent to its bar code, the machine-readable representation of the UPC. A barcode (also bar code) is an optical machine-readable representation of the UPC 12-digit number that can be reproduced onto merchandise and retail products.

How do I find a UPC code?

The UPC is found under the black vertical lines of the barcode and is scanned together with the barcode at the point of sale. The company prefix will link the product to your company and the IRN will identify the exact product.

Is a UPC 12 or 13 digits?

A UPC is a 12-digit barcode used in North America to identify most products. The rest of the world uses 13-digit EAN barcodes to identify products. However, both types of barcodes are part of GS1’s international standards, so both are accepted globally.

What do the numbers mean on a barcode?

The first six numbers of the barcode is the manufacturer’s identification number. The next five digits represent the item’s number. The last number is called a check digit which enables the scanner to determine if the barcode was scanned correctly.

How many numbers are in a UPC?

twelve numeric characters
However, the UPC symbol is the most recognized barcode in the United States, since it appears on almost every retail product. The UPC symbol (Universal Product Number) is the barcode representation of the GTIN-12 which consists of twelve numeric characters that uniquely identify a company’s individual product.

How can I tell where a barcode is from?

Locate the product barcode (also called a UPC code) on the packaging or on the product itself. Write down all the numbers below the straight black lines of the barcode. Enter the barcode into a barcode search engine, such as upcdatabase.com, to discover the manufacturer information for the product.

Can two products have the same UPC code?

UPCs are 12 digits, numeric only. UPCs must be purchased to ensure that the same two sets of numbers are not issued to more than one company. Many UPC providers sell them online and, for the most part, do so with integrity. But be cautious.