What the barcode on a product tells you
A barcode on a product is a number that a machine can read fast. The bars encode the digits. The digits identify the product in a shop system. The barcode does not hold the price or the name of the product. A shop looks up those details in its own database.
The most common type in Europe is EAN-13. It has 13 digits in four parts:
- The GS1 prefix, 2 or 3 digits. It shows which GS1 member organization issued the number.
- The company number. The company that owns the brand gets it.
- The product number. The company assigns it to one product and one pack size.
- A check digit. It lets a scanner find a misread at once.
UPC-A has 12 digits and is common in the US and Canada. EAN-8 has 8 digits and is for small packs, where a long code does not fit.
The GS1 prefix does not tell you the country where the product was made. It shows only where the company registered the number.
A barcode is not a QR code. A barcode is a row of bars and holds a short number. A QR code is a square grid and can hold a link, a text or a Wi-Fi login. The app reads both.
How to scan a barcode with QR Code Scanner
The app reads barcodes and QR codes on the same camera screen. You do not need to choose a mode.
- Open the app and allow the camera. The scanner starts at once.
- Frame the barcode. Hold the barcode level and keep all the bars in the frame.
- Read the number and the code type. The result shows the digits and the type, for example EAN-13.
- Search for the product. Tap Google, eBay, Amazon or OpenFoodFacts.
Compare prices and check food products
The one-tap searches send the barcode number to the store or the website you choose. A search on Google, eBay or Amazon shows the listings that match the number. You can compare the offers and the sellers yourself in a few seconds.
OpenFoodFacts is an open database of food products. When the product is in the database, its page shows the ingredients and the nutrition facts. Not every product is in the database, so a search can return no page.
You can also scan a barcode from a photo. Read how to scan a code from an image.
Use this on a shelf in a shop to see if the same item is cheaper online. Use it at home to check what is in a food pack. Use it to find the exact model of a device when the label is hard to read.
Tips for barcodes that do not scan
- Light. Use a bright place. Turn on the flash in a dark room.
- Distance. Move the phone slowly closer or farther until the bars are sharp.
- Curved packages. Bottles and cans bend the bars. Turn the product so the barcode faces the camera.
- Glare. Plastic wrap reflects light. Tilt the pack a little to remove the reflection.
- Damaged codes. If the bars are torn or smudged, type the printed digits into a search engine.
If the app still does not find the code after a few seconds, change one thing at a time. Change the angle first. Then change the distance.
Common mistakes
- Reading the GS1 prefix as the country of origin. The prefix names the organization that issued the number. A product made in one country can carry a prefix from another.
- Expecting the same barcode in every country. A brand can use a different number for the same product in different markets, so a search can show other listings.
- Using shop labels. A code that a shop prints on a fresh item, such as meat or fruit, is an in-store code. It does not match an online listing.
The same app also works on Android. For a comparison of scanner apps, read the best QR code scanner app.