GTIN

GTIN stands for Global Trade Item Number. It is a unique identifier for trade items used worldwide to identify products in the supply chain, at point of sale, and in product catalogs. GTINs are managed by GS1, a global nonprofit organization that develops and maintains barcoding and related data standards.

GTINs come in several formats, depending on regional barcode systems: GTIN-12 (commonly known as UPC-A in the United States), GTIN-13 (EAN-13 in most regions), GTIN-14, and GTIN-8 (used for small items or spaces-constrained contexts). Each GTIN encodes a GS1 prefix, an item reference, and a final check digit. The check digit is calculated using the standard modulo-10 algorithm to validate scans and entries.

GTINs are typically represented in barcodes such as UPC, EAN, or GS1-128 symbols. They are used to retrieve product data in point-of-sale systems, warehouses, online catalogs, and data synchronization across trading partners. GTINs enable consistent product identification across borders and between manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.

Companies obtain GTINs by joining GS1 and receiving a unique GS1 Company Prefix; they then assign item references to individual products. GTINs support identification of different packaging levels through GTIN-14, which incorporates a packaging indicator digit to designate the packaging level, while the core product identity is represented by the other GTIN formats. Overall, the GTIN is a foundational element of modern product identification and e-commerce.