Barcodes & inventory
EAN-13 and UPC-A: product barcode basics
Understand common retail barcode formats before preparing product stickers.
EAN-13 and UPC-A are retail trade-item barcode formats. The correct number depends on the product, market, and retailer requirements. A barcode graphic is only the visual encoding of an identifier; it does not grant ownership of a valid product number.
Obtain and manage product identifiers through the relevant GS1 organization or the channel’s approved process. Test the printed symbol at the final size and confirm the digits below it match the assigned number exactly.