Viivakooduja

Viivakooduja, Finnish for barcodes, are a machine-readable optical labeling system that contains information about the object to which it is attached. They are widely used in retail, inventory management, and logistics. The most common type of barcode is the linear barcode, which consists of a series of parallel lines of varying widths and spacing. These lines represent data in a binary format, where wide lines and spaces typically represent '1' and narrow lines and spaces represent '0'.

A barcode scanner reads the barcode by shining a light across it and detecting the reflected light. The pattern of light and dark areas is then translated into digital data. This data can then be processed by a computer system, allowing for quick and accurate identification and tracking of products. Different symbologies exist, such as UPC (Universal Product Code) and EAN (European Article Number), which are specific standards for encoding product information.

In addition to linear barcodes, two-dimensional (2D) barcodes like QR codes (Quick Response codes) have become increasingly popular. These store information both horizontally and vertically, allowing for a much larger data capacity than linear barcodes. QR codes can store website URLs, text, contact information, and more, and are often used for marketing and information sharing. The primary benefit of using barcodes is the significant increase in efficiency and accuracy compared to manual data entry.