A bar code usually doesn't contain descriptive data. The data in a bar code is just a reference number which the host database uses to look up additional information. For example, a bar code found on items at the grocery store (a UPC number) when scanned, does not display an item description or price. The product number would be associated to a record in the store's database that would hold that information. Scanning the bar code lookup the information and returns the required information.

Bar code technology has been around since the early 1950s.  There are many different bar code symbologies (think of it as a language). Each symbology has its own rules and features.  Some require a specific number of characters, some allow only numbers and others can include the full ASCII set. A 1D (1-dimensional) bar code usually is a license plate or identifier for an item in a database. A 2D (2-dimensional) bar code can hold more information and may actually be the database itself.  Some common symbologies are:

Code 128	UCC-128, EAN-128, GTIN, encode full ASCII
Code 39	AIAG, TCIF, HIBCC, Inventory, Name Badges
2 of 5	UPS Shipping Container
UPC and EAN	Food/Discount Store Items
Codabar	Blood Banks
PDF417	Transportation, manifests, personal ID
MaxiCode	2D used by UPS

"Code 128"	"EAN-13"	"PDF-417"

Bar code systems are a critical element in conducting business in today's economy. The adoption of bar code technology provides accuracy in data capture over keyboard data entry.  Realize efficiencies with the ability to quickly access and display critical information with a simple bar code scan.  Panatrack specializes in applications for rugged mobile computers with integrated bar code scanning to streamline business operations.