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Usually, no. The digits printed beneath a familiar retail barcode are generally the product’s GTIN—a code shared by many units of the same product—not the unique serial number for one item. Some GS1 barcode data can include a serial number, but it is not present in every barcode.
What does the number beneath a barcode identify?
On a common UPC or EAN retail label, the readable digits beneath the bars are the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number). GS1 describes these digits as a human-readable reference that identifies the product. That means the same GTIN can appear on many units of the same product; it does not normally distinguish one individual unit from another. GS1 explains how GTINs and barcodes work.
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UPC and EAN refer to familiar GTIN formats: GTIN-12 is commonly called UPC, while GTIN-13 is commonly called EAN or JAN. The number of digits or the fact that they are printed below the bars does not make the code a serial number.
How is a serial number different?
A serial number identifies an individual item rather than its product type. A GTIN can be reused across many identical products; a serial is assigned to a particular instance. GS1 describes the distinction as product identity versus the identity of an individual item. GS1’s overview of traceability and serialisation explains this role.
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- Supports almost all 1D Barcodes: Febraban Bank Code, Codabar, Code 11, Code93, MSI, Code 128, EAN-128, Code 39, EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A, ISBN, Industrial 25, Interleaved 25, Standard 25, Matrix. Reads damaged, fuzzy, reflective and smudged barcodes.
| Identifier | What it identifies | Can it repeat across units? |
|---|---|---|
| GTIN | A product or trade-item type | Yes; many units of the same product may share it |
| Serial number | An individual item | It distinguishes that particular item |
Can a barcode contain a serial number?
Yes, some GS1 barcode data can include one. In applicable GS1 data, Application Identifier (21), often written as AI (21), marks the serial-number field. When combined with a GTIN, it can identify an individual item. GS1’s General Specifications, Release 23.0.0, section 3.5.2, defines AI (21) for serial-number data.
Not every barcode contains a serial number. The barcode format and encoded fields depend on its use. A scanner may reveal machine-readable fields that are not obvious from the printed digits, but scanning does not guarantee that serial data is present. GS1’s barcode explanation describes how scanners read barcode data.
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Where should you look for the product’s serial number?
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Check the label and nearby text for “Serial,” “S/N,” or “SN.” Do not treat the digits below an ordinary UPC or EAN barcode as the serial unless the product documentation identifies them that way.
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For a device, look up the manual or official support page for its exact make and model. Manufacturers place serial labels in different locations, so there is no single position that applies to every product.
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- Supports Screen Scanning: The Eyoyo 2D scanner is capable of reading barcodes from smartphone screens, such as mobile coupons, digital wallets, and digital loyalty cards; Before scanning, simply turn your screen brightness to the maximum
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If you need to inspect barcode data, a scanner can help reveal encoded fields. Look for AI (21) in applicable GS1 data; a scanner cannot supply a serial number that the barcode does not contain.
Is the barcode number the serial number?
Usually not. On a common retail barcode, the printed number is the GTIN for the product type. A serial number identifies one particular unit and may appear separately on the product or, in some GS1 barcode data, in the AI (21) field.
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- CCD Image Scanning Technology - NetumScan 1D barcode reader is equiped with advanced CCD sensor, which can quick capture 1D codes from paper and screen, including CODE128, UPC/EAN Add on 2 or 5, that can read even deformed barcodes, i.e. smudged, damaged, fuzzy, reflective barcodes, etc. Reading faster and more accurate than laser scanner.
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- Supported 1D Bar Code - 1D Decode Capability: UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, EAN-13, ISSN, ISBN, Code 128, GS1-128, Code39, Code93,Code32, Code11, UCC/EAN128, Interleaved 2 of 5, Industrial 2 of 5, Codabar(NW-7), MSI, Plessey, RSS, China Post, etc.
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