GS1 Glossary

Add on
A bar code used to encode information additional to that in the main code.

Al
See Application identifier.

Algorithm
A character set that contains letters, numbers and usually other character such as punctuation mark.

Alignment
In an automatic identification system, the relative position and orientation of a scanner to the bar code symbol.

Application Identifier
The EAN/UCC system for encoding identify and supplementary information.

Article
See items.

Background
The spaces, lig’ht margin area, and any other area surrounding a printed code symbol.

Bars
The dark lines and light spaces in a bar code symbol.

Bar Code Symbol
A representation of a group of number and/or letters (alphabetical or numerical digits) in a form suitable for reading by machines. Refers to the bars and spaces, and the human readable characters underneath.

Character
1. a single group of bars and spaces that represents a specific character
2. a graphic shape representing a letter, numeral, punctuation mark or symbol
3. a letter, digit or other symbol used as part of organising, controlling or representing data.

Character Set
Those characters available for encoding in each symbology.

Checkdigit
A character calculated from other characters in the bar code symbol, used to check that the bar code symbol is correctly composed.

Concatenation
When several types of data field are expressed in a single bar code.

Decimal indicator
Where an application identifier has three digits but the specified format contains four, the fourth is the decimal indicator, showing the position of the decimal point in the number field.
 

EAN
International Article Numbering Association, Originally called the European Article Number (hence EAN), then the European Article Num- bering Association. It is now called EAN Inter- national.
The international body responsible for coordinating, developing and promoting the EAN system of identification and bar coding.

EAN India
The Indian body of EAN International responsible for coordinating, developing and promoting the EAN system of identification and bar coding in India.

EAN-8
The eight-digit version of the international item identification number. You must apply to EAN India to obtain an EAN-8 number.

EAN-13
The thirteen digit version of the international item identification number.

EAN-128
The bar code symbology that must be used to encode application identifiers and numbers used in conjunction with them. It is based on Code 128 but is not the same

EAN Prefix
In EAN numbers, the EAN Prefix is the set of numbers, usually 7 digits, allocated by EAN to members to form the basis of the member's own numbering system.

EANCOM
EANCOM is the electronic data interchange standard international standard of EAN International and a subject of the EDIFACT standard.

EDI
See electronic data interchange.

Electronic data interchange
The transfer of structured data, by agreed message standards, from one computer application to another by electronic means and with a minimum of human intervention.

Encode
Put human-readable characters into the form of a bar code symbol.

European Article Number
See EAN.

Field
An area in a computer file designated for one item of data.

Field length
The number of characters included in a field may be a stipulated number (fixed length) or any number up to a stated maximum (variable length).

Function One character
Character that is incorporated in an EAN-128 symbol to help the decoding software decode and organise the data contained in a bar code. The character is not shown in human-readable information.

Film master
The original film, much like a photograph film, used to print a bar code symbol. Film master suppliers make film masters.

H mark
The character in the printability gauge for the ITF bar code symbol used for routine print quality control (determining the amount of ink spread).

Human-readable digits
The characters usually printed underneath the bars of a bar code symbol.

Human-readable information
Characters printed along with the bar code symbol, usually underneath it.

In-house system
See Closed system.

Internal code
A unique and unambiguous code used in a specific closed environment. It can only be used internally with in the boundaries of the Organisation. All called in house code.

Interleaves Two of Five-ITF
A symbology for use on non retail items such as trade units.

Identification number
See item identification number.

International Article Number
Identifies the numbering system used within EAN. 

International Standard Book Number ISBN 
Ten-digit numbers used internationally by publishers to identify their books. Every book has a unique ISBN.

International Standard Serial Number ISSN
Eight digit numbers used internationally to identify Periodicals and journals. Every periodical and journal has a unique ISSN

ISBN
See International Standard Serial Number.

Item
Anything that can be identified by an item identification number. An item can be a retail item or non retail item.

Item identification number, Item ID
Identifies items with a unique 
non-significant number. This number does not convey any specific item information-it is purely for identification.

ITF-14
A symbology used on trade units.

Item identification Number
Identifying item with a unique non-significant number. This number does not convey any specific item information, it is purely for identifica- tion. The EAN prefix, the item number, and check digit constitute the item's primary identification number.

Item number
A unique five-digit number allocated to each item. 

ITF
See Interleaves Two of Five.

ITF-1,4
A symbology for use on non-retail items such as trade units.

Laser scanner
An electronic bar code symbol reading device that uses a low power laser as the light source.

Logistic units
Physical units established for transport and storage of goods of any kind which need to be tracked and traced individually in a supply chain.

Logistical variant-LV 
The first digit of the fourteen-digit item identification number. A different logistical variant identifies different levels of packaging of the same item.

Lightpen
A hand-held bar code symbol reading devise. You pass a light pen across a bar code symbol to decode it.

Light margin
The clear area which must surround every bar code symbol.

Magnification factor
The amount to multiply the nominal dimensions of a bar code symbol to obtain the actual dimensions for the film master.

Module
The narrowest nominal dimension width measurement in a bar code symbol. In the EAN bar code symbol, each digit of the item identification number is represented by seven modules of uni- form width. The modules may be light or dark.

Modulo 10
The algorithm used to calculate the check digit in standard item numbers.

Modulo 103
The algorithm used to calculate the check digit that is incorporated into an EAN-128 bar code symbol but not shown in the human-readable characters.

Machine readable
Capable of being read by scanner devices.

Multipack
A number of retail items package together to form a larger retail item.

Nominal dimensions
The reference dimensions of a bar code symbol stipulated in section 4, "Symbology details." The nominal dimensions are usually multiplied by the magnification factor to obtain the actual dimensions.
The exact, or ideal, intended value for a specified parameter. Tolerances are specified as positive and negative deviations from this value.

Nominal size
See nominal dimensions.

Numeric
A character that includes only numbers.

OCR-B
Stylised font choice used for traditional optical character recognition (OCR) printing.

On-demand printing
Printing carried out at a production or distribution point, in which labels are produced as required for immediate application to articles. On-demand printing will use computer-driven printing technology rather than the traditional printing methods usual in pre-printing.

Open system
A system that is universally understood and usable.

Orientation
The alignment of a bar code symbol with respect to the horizontal. Two possible orientations are horizontal with vertical bars and spaces (picket fence) and vertical with horizontal bars and spaces (ladder).

Own label
An item branded by a retailer or wholesaler. 

Packaging indicator
The American term for logistical variant.

Quiet Zone
See light margin.

Picketfence orientation
Symbol printed with its width horizontal so that bars are vertical.

Printability gauge
A series of specialty calibrated marks on a film (similar to a photographic film) printed on to packaging to test the 
quality of printing.

Point of sale (POS)
The point at which retail items are purchased either in retail or cash and carry outlet.
 

POS
See Point of sale.
 

Primary identification number
The EAN prefix, the item number, the check digit and any 14th digit constitute the primary identification number.

Retail item
An item intended for sale to the consumer in a retail outlet.

Retail outlet
An outlet selling goods directly to the consumer.

Scanner
An electronic device that electro-optically converts optical information into electrical signals.

Shipping container or shipper
American term for trade unit.

Spaces
The light areas between the dark bars in a bar code symbol.

Supplementary information
A bar code symbol carrying information over and above the item identification given in the main EAN bar code symbol.

Supply chain
The series of processes and physical locations through which raw materials are extracted, converted into usable goods, stored and distributed, and conveyed to an end user.

Symbol
A combination of symbols character (including start and stop patterns, light margin area, data characters, and check digits required by a particular symbology) that forms a complete scannable entity.

Symbology
A way of representing human readable characters in machine readable format. There are different symbologies, each better suited to a different environment using different printing and scanning techniques. Each different symbology has a diferent way of creating the symbol characters.

Tolerance
Allowable deviations from the standard value.

Truncation
A bar-code symbol printed with normal length but reduced height. Truncated bar code symbols can have scanning difficulties.

Trade unit
Any stable and standard grouping of several retail items made up to facilitate operation like handling, storing, order preparation and shipping. Sometimes called; carton, shipper, outer, trade unit, despatch unit.

Uniform Code Council-UCC
The body in North America responsible for administering article numbering.

UCC
See Uniform Code Council.
 

UCC I EAN-128
Symbology used to encode the EAN application identifier details.

Uniform Product Code- UPC
The numbering standard administered by the UCC in North America.

Variable weight item
An item which varies continuously as a function of its weight