EAN Barcode Scanner

What is an EAN barcode?

The EAN barcode is a one-dimensional (1D) code that serves as the current standard for product identification in much of global trade. The exception is North America, where UPC barcodes are used. While “EAN” originally meant “European Article Number,” it now stands for International Article Number.

EAN barcodes come in several subtypes, with EAN-13 and EAN-8 being the most common. They are listed in the table below:

Barcode variation	Image	Data capacity	Use cases
EAN-13		13 digits	Global product identification, retail POS
EAN-8		8 digits	Smaller products with limited space on packaging
EAN-5 (supplement)		5 digits	Add-on for EAN-13, EAN-8, and UPC-A, often used for book pricing
EAN-2 (supplement)		2 digits	Add-on for EAN-13, EAN-8, and UPC-A, often used for magazine issue numbers
ISSN (International Standard Serial Number)		8 digits	Serial publications identification
ISBN (International Standard Book Number)		13 digits	Book identification

EAN codes are standardized in ISO/IEC 15420. EAN-13 symbols always encode the product’s Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). These consist of a GS1 prefix of the country of registration, company and product codes, and a check digit for error detection.

Structure and components

EAN-13 codes encode 13 numeric digits, split into two key components: A 12-digit GTIN and 1 check digit.

The GTIN itself begins with a GS1 Company Prefix (GCP), a unique identifier assigned to the product’s original seller, obtained through registration at the relevant country’s GS1 code center. The length of the GCP varies, but the first three digits are a country code.

The remaining digits are used to identify a particular product, including variations like size, color, or flavor.

An EAN-13 barcode thus has the following structure:

1. Country code: 3 digits (countries can be assigned more than one).
2. Company prefix: Unique identifier for the seller. It includes the country code and a manufacturer code. Find the list of GS1 prefixes here.
3. Item reference: Takes up the rest of the 12 GTIN digits, creating a unique product ID.
4. Check digit: The final digit is used for error detection.

Error detection and other accuracy features

The checksum digit is calculated using a variant of the Modulo-10 (Luhn Algorithm) and helps detect scanning errors. It is the last digit and can be any number between 0 and 9.

EAN codes also feature guard bars (marked in green) and quiet zones (marked in red), which help barcode readers identify code boundaries and orientation. The quiet zones prevent interference from surrounding text and graphics. Additionally, the two halves of the barcode – before and after the middle guard bar – use different patterns for the same digit, further clarifying the orientation.

Finally, the content is also shown in human-readable form for redundancy.

Applications of EAN codes

Retail

EAN codes enable fast, accurate checkout processes by providing instant access to product information, prices, and inventory levels.

E-commerce

Major platforms like Amazon and eBay require EAN codes on products and for product listings, facilitating inventory tracking, shipping logistics, and sales management.

Advantages of EAN codes

• Compact size: They store product codes in a compact format. The choice of EAN-13 and EAN-8 makes them suitable for use on products of various sizes, from grocery items to larger retail goods.
• Error detection: EAN codes offer error detection through a modulo-10 check digit.
• Omnidirectional scanning: EAN codes have a clear direction, ensuring seamless decoding from any angle.

Why choose the Scanbot SDK for EAN barcode scanning?

The Scanbot Barcode Scanner SDK is specifically designed to handle the challenges of decoding EAN barcodes in real-world scenarios.

What sets us apart:

• Exceptional performance: Reliably decodes even damaged, low-contrast or distorted barcodes.
• High-speed scanning: Read EAN codes in as little as 0.04 seconds.
• Cross-platform compatibility: Easily integrate with Android, iOS, cross-platform, web, Windows, and Linux platforms.
• Customizable UI: Customize the ready-to-use components to match your app or website design.
• Privacy-first: Operates offline for complete data security.

Whether your use case involves EAN codes, UPC codes, QR codes, or other barcode symbologies, the Scanbot SDK delivers the accuracy, speed, and reliability you need to succeed.

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