barcode
BAHR-kohd
/ˈbɑːrkoʊd/
A machine-readable code in the form of numbers and a pattern of parallel lines of varying widths.
Used for identifying products and tracking inventory automatically.
The story behind the word. The barcode was inspired by Morse code. In 1948, Bernard Silver and Norman Joseph Woodland wanted to automate supermarket checkouts. Woodland drew dots and dashes in the sand at the beach and then extended them vertically to create the first 'bar' code.
Word relationships
- UPC: Stands for Universal Product Code, the specific type of barcode used in North America.
Commonly confused with
- QR code: A barcode is linear (1D), while a QR code is a square matrix (2D).
Word family
- barcoding (noun): The process of applying or using barcodes.
- barcoded (adjective): Marked with a barcode.
Collocations
- scan a barcode
- barcode scanner
- barcode reader
Example sentences
- "The scanner failed to read the barcode because the label was torn." Technology
- "Every item in the store must have a unique barcode for the inventory system to work." Retail
Memory hook
It is a 'code' made of 'bars'. Barcode: Bars of data for the scanner.
When not to use
Do not use for QR codes, which are two-dimensional and hold more data.
Fun facts
- The first item ever scanned by a barcode was a 10-pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit chewing gum in 1974.
- The lines in a barcode represent numbers, but the bars themselves are what the laser reads by measuring reflected light.
Also appears in
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