A bar code is defined as a series of parallel bars and spaces arranged according to the encodation

rules of a particular specification in order to represent data (Barthel, 2009). Its purpose is to
represent information in a form that is machine readable, typically by scanning devices that are
programmed to analyze the structure of the bars and spaces and transmit the encoded data in
electronic format to a computer.

Since 2005, the EAN/UPC symbology has been managed by the global organization GS1. The GS1
System of Standards are built and maintained through the GS1 Global Standards Management
Process (GSMP), a worldwide collaborative forum (www.gs1.org). One of the main building blocks of
the GS1 system is the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) used to uniquely identify trade items at any
point in the supply chain. Each trade item that is different from another is allocated its own separate
GTIN. Consumer units (the smallest unit intended to be sold to the ultimate end user) are assigned a
12-digit number. Trade items above the consumer unit such as intermediate packs, cartons, packs
containing multiple consumer units or standard mixtures of consumer units are assigned a 14-digit
number. The GTIN-14 Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) uniquely identifies shipping containers
and provides a method of linking the physical carton or shipping container to information about its
contents. The familiar old GS1 BarCode now comes in a new version called GS1 DataBar (formerly
known as Reduced Space Symbology) that is smaller than its predecessor but contains more
information.
( GS1 is a not-for-profit organization that develops and maintains global standards for
business communication. The best known of these standards is the barcode, a symbol
printed on products that can be scanned electronically. )

DataBar barcodes are often used to label fresh foods. These barcodes can hold information like an
item's batch number or expiry date, in addition to other attributes used at the point-of-sale such the
item weight. DataBar barcodes are often used in retail, and can be read by laser scanners.

Code 49 barcodes are also known as USS-49 barcodes. They are another
set of stacked and linear barcodes. Although the ASCII characters are used
for this type of 2d barcodes, only 128 of the characters are recognized. The
number of possible rows ranges from two to eight. The rows and row height
can be changed.
The PDF417 and its variation Micro PDF417 both use the full set of 256 ASCII characters. This
type of 2d barcodes looks as if it has thick columns on both ends and the coded rows in the
middle. These codes are stacked and linear. The PDF417 holds more than a kilobyte of
information in the 900 available patterns. The Micro PDF417 is more efficient than its larger
counterpart, but it stores less information. Another variation of these is the Truncated PDF417. It
holds the same information and uses the same codes, but it is missing either a code word or a
stop bar that would make it a complete barcode.

A data matrix code is a 2D code that is made of black and white cells that are typically
arranged in a square pattern (although rectangular patterns also exist). The number of
rows and columns increases with the amount of information stored in the code, which is
limited to 2,335 alphanumeric characters

A QR code (an initialism for Quick Response code) is a type of matrix

barcode (or two-dimensional barcode) invented in 1994 by the Japanese
automotive company Denso Wave. A barcode is a machine-readable
optical label that contains information about the item to which it is attached.

QR Code Generator (the-qrcode-generator.com)

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to

automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. An RFID system consists of a tiny
radio transponder, a radio receiver and transmitter. When triggered by an electromagnetic
interrogation pulse from a nearby RFID reader device, the tag transmits digital data, usually
an identifying inventory number, back to the reader. This number can be used to
track inventory goods.