What Is a UPC Barcode and How Does It Work?
What Is a UPC Barcode and How Does It Work?
A UPC (Universal Product Code) is a standardized 12-digit barcode used primarily in the United States and Canada to identify retail products. The barcode symbol itself is simply a machine-readable representation of the digits printed below it.
When a UPC barcode is scanned at checkout, the number is transmitted to the store's system. That system then looks up the product record that the retailer has on file and retrieves the:
- Product name
- Price
- Inventory level
- Sales tracking data
The barcode does not store this information internally. It only transmits the number that links to the retailer's database.
Speedy Barcodes provides retail-ready UPC barcodes that work for inventory control, checkout scanning, and product tracking.
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