Viivasienet

Viivasienet, also known as *viivakoodit* in Finnish, refers to a system of visual markings used primarily in logistics, manufacturing, and inventory management. These markings consist of parallel lines of varying widths and spacing, which encode data in a machine-readable format. The system was developed in the 1940s but gained widespread adoption in the 1970s with the advent of barcode scanners.

Viivasienet are commonly used for tracking products through supply chains, automating inventory checks, and speeding up checkout processes in retail. The most widely recognized standard is the Universal Product Code (UPC), used on consumer goods worldwide. Other formats, such as QR codes and DataMatrix, extend functionality by storing more complex information, including URLs, contact details, or product specifications.

The design of viivasienet follows strict encoding rules, where line thickness, spacing, and positioning convey numerical or alphanumeric data. Scanners read these patterns using light reflection, converting them into digital signals for processing. The system enhances efficiency by reducing manual data entry errors and enabling real-time tracking.

Beyond retail, viivasienet are applied in healthcare for medication tracking, transportation for cargo identification, and even in cultural preservation for archival documentation. Modern variations, such as two-dimensional (2D) codes, allow for greater data density and compatibility with smartphones. While traditional linear barcodes remain dominant, advancements continue to expand their utility in digital and IoT-driven environments.