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Maxa Technologies - Barcode glossary Category: Agriculture and Industry > Barcodes Date & country: 24/02/2015, USA Words: 45

X Dimension
The narrowest part of the barcodes symbology and is used to determine the amount of information that can be captured within a specific amount of space in the barcode.

WMS
WMS stands for Warehouse Management System. Provides the user with an enhanced ability to monitor and control the movement of materials and products from warehouse through to shipping, picking and delivery.

UPC
UPC (Universal Product Code) is a barcode symbology used for tracking trade items in stores. Will consist of two parts - numbers and a series of bars. A UPC doesn't carry any price information, just relates to the stores database allowing the user to set their own prices.

Vertical Barcode
A barcode printed perpendicular to the horizon.

WINS
WNS stands for Windows Internet Name Service. A central mapping of host names to network addresses, determining the IP address associated with a particular network for computers running Windows.

Snappiness
Snappiness is the measure of a barcode scanners speed and time it takes to read the barcoded information. May be measured by reads per minute, trigger to output time or trigger to beep time.

Thermal Transfer Printer
A thermal transfer printer prints receipts and tickets using a digital printing process in which paper is printed by melting a coating of ribbon onto the paper. It contrasts to direct thermal printing where no ribbon is used.

Self-checking
When a barcode symbology is designed to check itself so that one character cannot be read as another, and if when scanned the barcode does not meet a preset value it is rejected. A barcode is considered self-checking if a single defect will not cause a character to be misinterpreted.

Quiet Zone
The quiet zone is the blank margin on either side of a barcode. The 'quiet space' is used to tell a barcode reader where a barcode's symbology starts and ends.

RFID Scanner
A scanner that detects Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and relays data contained within these tags.

RFID
(UHF, HF) RFID (Radio-frequency Identification) incorporates tags and antennas and allows the user to track any product with an RFID tag. Has uses in inventory management.

Portable Label Printers
A portable label printer or personal label printer that is small and maneuverable. Different portable printers have been designed to suit rugged or tough environments.

QR Code
Quick Response Code. A QR Code is a 2D barcode consisting of black and white squares. QR Codes can store information, such as URLs, and be read by a camera on a mobile phone.

PDA Barcode Scanner
A Personal Digital Assistant with an additional built in barcode scanner or an attached barcode scanner add on.

Omni Directional Barcode Scanner
An Omni Directional Laser Scanner works in the same way as a basic barcode reader. However, the addition of several mirrors transforms the single laser one into many, allowing for the reading of barcodes from a variety of different angles and directions. Often used in POS installations.

No Reader Barcode Scanner
A Barcode scanner without the reader component fitted. May be used primarily for manually inputted data as opposed to barcode scanning.

Matrix Barcode
A matrix barcode is a 2D barcode that can hold up to 2,335 alphanumeric characters. It consists of black and white cells arranged in a square or rectangular pattern.

Micro QR Code
Simply a smaller version of a QR code used for applications where symbol size is limited due to space or design requirements.

NFC
NFC (Near Field Communication) is a set of standards that allow smartphones to establish radio communication and connection through either touch or by bringing a number of mobile devices within proximity of each other.

Long Range Barcode Scanner
These scanners are designed to scan barcodes from a few feet away, scanning anywhere from 1-13 meters away. These scanners are suitable for use in environments such as warehouses, outdoors and any environment that requires the ability to scan from a distance.

Laser Barcode Scanner
A barcode scanner that uses a laser beam as a light source and either a reciprocating mirror or rotating prism to scan the laser beam across the barcode. The barcode is read by measuring the intensity of the light reflected back from the bar code.

Linear Barcode Scanner
A barcode scanner used to read a 1D or Linear Barcode. These can either be stationary or handheld scanners.

Hands Free Barcode Scanner
A scanner that does not require the user to operate the scanner by hand. These are stationary scanners that require the barcode to be passed through the beam. Often mounted on tills and EPOS systems.

HIBCC
Health Industry Bar Code Standards. Developed to provide a unifrom labelling system for products being shipped into hospitals and other medical institutions

Horizontal Barcode
A barcode symbol that is presented so that the overall length is parallel to the horizon and generally longer than the height. Rectangular in shape.

Human Readable
A representation of data that can be read and understood by humans, as opposed to data only reader with a barcode scanner.

Flash Memory
A form of non-volatile computer memory that does not require continuous power to retain data. The memory can be erased and reprogrammed and is commonly used in mobile phones, cameras and embedded controllers.

Fixed Beam Scanner
A fixed beam scanner is a bar code scanner that employs a stationary beam of light to read bar code symbols and images. Due to the stationary nature of the scanner, the barcode must be moved through the beam to be read.

EAN
International Article Number (originally European Article Number, original abbreviation has been retained) The EAN is most commonly a globally standardized 13-digit bar code system to allow for the identification of products regardless of location. There are also EAN 2, EAN 5 and EAN 8 variations.

Element
A single bar or space within a barcode symbol.

EZCode
An EZCode is a 2D Barcode created specifically for mobile phone cameras because of its basic simplicity in comparison to other matrix codes.

Desktop Label Printer
Often a wireless miniature printer that can be mounted on a desktop or counter top. Ideal for situations that are tight on space but still require high quality label printing.

EAS
EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) is a technological method used to prevent shoplifting and theft of individual items from private property. This will consist of a small EAS tag that will set of an alarm when it passes through a detection system.

EAN-13 Symbology
The most commonly used EAN barcode. The EAN-13 consists of a globally standardized 13-digit bar code consisting of 12 data digits and 1 check digit. The EAN-13 was created as a superset of the original 12-digit Universal Product Code (UPC) system.

Depth of Field
The depth of field (DOF) is the distance between the closest and furthest point at which a barcode can still be scanned by a scanner.

Check Digit
A Check digit is a form of redundancy check used for error detection on id numbers. On a barcode, the check digit can be found on the far right side of the barcode.

Data Matrix
A data matrix code is a 2D Barcode that consists of black and white square cell modules arranged in either a square or rectangular pattern. The type of data encoded in a Data Matrix can include either text or numeric data.

CCD Barcode Scanner
CCD (Charge-Couple Device) Barcode Scanners use an array of tiny light sensors lined up in a row to measure the intensity of the light immediately in front of them. A CCD Scanner generally offers a greater read-range and is a favourite in retail sectors. It cannot read a barcode wider than its input face.

Barcode
A barcode is a machine-readable representation of data relating to the oobject or product to which it is attached. A barcode can be found in a variety of different formats including 1D, or linear, 2D and 3D variations. Barcodes are read by scanners that 'read' small images of lines, bars and spaces and translate these symbols into data.

Bidirectional Barcodes
Bidirectional symbologies are common in most barcode variations including linear, 2D and 3D Barcodes. Bidirectional symbology allows a scanner to read the code either by moving from left to right or right to left.

Barcode Symbology
Barcode Symbology is the mapping between messages and barcodes. This includes the encoding of the characters and the bars/spaces that compose a barcode. They are genereally classified into two different classes. Continuous vs Discrete and two-width vs many-width.

Aztec Code
The Aztec Code is a variation of the 2D Barcode. It is so named due to its resemblance to an Aztec pyramid and has the potential to use less space than other matrix barcodes due to its structure and layout.

Alignment Pattern
Alignment patterns support QR code decoder software by helping to compensate for moderate distortions on the printed code. As a rule of thumb, as QR codes get larger and larger, the requirement for more alignment patterns increases.

ANSI
American National Standards Institute. Sets standards for a wide range of technical areas, including barcoding.

Aperture
This is the measurement for the size of the beam used by a barcode scanner to read a barcode.