Vöötkood

Vöötkood is the Estonian word for barcode. A barcode is a machine-readable optical label that contains information about the item to which it is attached. This information is typically encoded in the form of a series of parallel lines and spaces of varying widths. When scanned by a barcode reader, these lines and spaces are translated into a sequence of numbers or characters, which can then be processed by a computer.

The most common type of barcode is the Universal Product Code (UPC), widely used in North America for retail products. Other popular barcode symbologies include the European Article Number (EAN), Code 39, and Code 128. Each symbology has its own set of rules for encoding data and its own range of applications.

Barcodes are essential for a wide variety of industries, including retail, logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare. In retail, they enable efficient point-of-sale transactions, inventory management, and product tracking. In logistics, they facilitate the sorting and tracking of packages throughout the supply chain. Their ability to quickly and accurately capture data makes them a cornerstone of modern automated systems, reducing errors and increasing operational efficiency.