EANlike

EANlike is a term used to describe numbering schemes and barcode formats that resemble the European Article Number (EAN) family in structure and purpose. It is not an official standard; rather, it denotes systems intended to provide globally unique identifiers for trade items that can be scanned at points of sale and in logistics.

Most EANlike schemes are numeric, fixed-length codes that use a check digit to validate data entry. Many resemble the 13-digit EAN-13 format, including a prefix that can be interpreted as a company or organization identifier and a product reference portion, with the final digit computed by a modulo-10 algorithm. However, unlike true EAN/GS1 identifiers, EANlike codes may be issued by different organizations or authorities, or may be used in local or non-standard contexts.

In practice, EANlike codes are used to tag products, packaging units, or consignments and are intended to facilitate scanning, inventory control, and cross-system interoperability. They may be encoded in barcode formats compatible with EAN/UPC symbologies, enabling broad readability where GS1 registration is unavailable or unnecessary for a project.

Because EANlike is not a formal standard, its exact syntax, prefix conventions, and governance vary by implementer. Projects using the term generally document their local rules, ensure consistent check-digit calculation, and, where possible, align with GS1 concepts to improve compatibility with existing barcode ecosystems.