Wasp Barcode Technologies: The Barcode Solution People

What Is the UPC-A Barcode Type and How Is It Used

Universal Product Codes (UPCs) are widely recognized barcodes used primarily in retail to identify products. When you're using inventory systems such as InventoryCloud to track retail items in stores, you'll see many types of barcodes for tracking products.

The UPC-A barcode, the most common format for product barcodes, is a 12-digit number organized into specific sections that conveys essential information in a linear barcode symbology. Like others, this UPC code is a standardized 12-digit code with an assigned company prefix, and it's primarily utilized in the retail industry for product identification and inventory tracking. 

Do you need to turn your UPC code into a barcode image?

Visit our free Barcode Generator, and enter the numerical digits you need for your label. This online tool lets you generate linear and 2D barcodes from any barcode symbology, including the UPC-A. 

About the UPC-A Format

The UPC-A format, or Universal Product Code-A, is a widely used barcode standard that plays a crucial role in retail and inventory management across various industries.

Developed in the early 1970s for the grocery industry in North America, each of the UPC-A’s 12 digit numeric characters has a specific significance, including identifying the manufacturer and product information. This standardized coding system facilitates efficient tracking, processing, and sales transactions, making it an essential tool for businesses seeking to optimize their retail stores.

How much info can a UPC-A barcode hold?

While UPC-A barcodes are highly effective for quick scanning at checkout and inventory management, they are limited in the amount of information they can encode. The simplicity of the format allows it to efficiently represent product identifiers but restricts the volume of data that can be stored in the evolving landscape of product tracking and identification.

The UPC-A format encodes 11 digits of product data and includes a 12th digit to verify the accuracy of the scanned information. The extra digit ensures that the barcode scanner delivers the right information from the individual product label to the inventory system you're using.

The first segment typically identifies the manufacturer, while the subsequent digits specify the particular product. This structure allows quick recognition of product types and ensures accurate inventory management.

In summary, the UPC-A barcode plays a crucial role in the retail sector by streamlining product identification and enhancing inventory tracking up and down the supply chain.  When using InventoryCloud for tracking and scanning UPC-A with barcode readers, you can ensure consistency and improve the overall efficiency of your retail operations.

How the UPC-A Number System Digit Evolved

The first digit in the barcode symbol indicates the category of the retail product and is significant for classification purposes, helping retailers identify the type of item being scanned. Unlike the check digit, which is the 12th digit in the UPC-A code to verify the accuracy of the data for the laser scanner, the number system digit provides essential information about the product's family. Historically, the number system digit was primarily zero, as this reflected the majority of early products. However, as the marketplace has evolved, other digits are becoming increasingly common, reflecting a wider variety of trade items in more product categories. Overall, the number system digit on barcode labels plays a crucial role in the functionality of barcodes in retail environments.

It's important to note that when transmitting UPC-A codes to cash registers or databases, the number system digit must be included along with the 11 other digits, ensuring accurate identification and processing of products. 

Understanding the Format of the UPC-A Barcode

Each UPC-A code consists of 12 digits:

• The Number System digit, which identifies the type of product.
• The subsequent five digits represent the Manufacturer Code, also called the GS1 company prefix, which is assigned to the producer.
• The next five digits are the Product Code, specific to the item.
• The 12th digit is the UPC-A check digit to verify the code's accuracy.

For example, a UPC-A barcode might read as follows: 0-12345-67890-5, where "0" is the Number System digit, "12345" is the GS1 Company Prefix, "67890" is the Product Code, and "5" is the checksum.

Many products use Add-On Symbols, which are smaller barcodes added to provide supplementary information like price or expiration dates. These enhance product details without crowding the primary UPC-A barcode.

UPC-A vs UPC-E

UPC-A and UPC-E are both barcode formats used for tracking products, but they have distinct differences in structure, size, and applications.

UPC-A consists of 12 numerical digits and is larger in size, making it suitable for a majority of products sold such as groceries and consumer goods. In contrast, the 6-digit UPC-E Code is a compressed type of barcode designed for smaller items where space is limited, like candy bars or small toiletries.

A key feature of UPC-E is its use of zero suppression, where leading zeros are omitted to allow for a more compact barcode. However, UPC-E can be easily uncompressed back into its original UPC-A format for broader compatibility with scanning systems.