Bar codes are a common sight in today’s world. They are used in almost every industry and have become an integral part of our lives. From scanning products at the grocery store to tracking packages, bar codes have made our lives easier. In this article, we will discuss the meaning and definition of bar codes, their origin, and their associations.
Definitions
A bar code is a series of lines that represent data. It is a machine-readable code that is used to identify products, packages, and other items. The lines in a bar code represent a numerical or alphanumeric code that is unique to the item it represents.
According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a bar code is “a symbol consisting of a series of bars and spaces that can be scanned and read by a bar code reader to identify a product or service.”
Origin
The first bar code was invented in 1949 by Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver. They were students at Drexel University in Philadelphia and came up with the idea of a code that could be read by a machine. The first bar code was a series of lines that represented the number “6” and was used to identify railroad cars.
The modern bar code that we use today was developed in the 1970s by George Laurer, who worked for IBM. He created the Universal Product Code (UPC), which is still in use today.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a bar code is “a code consisting of a group of printed and variously patterned bars and spaces and sometimes numerals that is designed to be scanned and read into computer memory and that contains information (such as identification) about the object it labels.”
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a bar code as “a series of vertical bars of varying width, printed on a product or package, which can be read by an optical scanner to identify the product, its price, etc.”
Associations
Bar codes are associated with various industries, including retail, logistics, and healthcare. They are used to track inventory, identify products, and manage supply chains. Bar codes are also used in healthcare to track patient information and medication.
Synonyms
Some synonyms for bar codes include:
- QR code.
- Data matrix.
- 2D code.
- Barcode.
Antonyms
There are no antonyms for bar codes as they are a unique technology.
The same root words
There are no root words for bar codes as it is a unique term.
Example Sentences
- The cashier scanned the bar code on the package to identify the product.
- The logistics company used bar codes to track the shipment of goods.
- The hospital used bar codes to track patient medication and treatment.
- The QR code is a type of bar code that can be scanned with a smartphone.
- The data matrix is a type of 2D bar code that can store more information than a traditional bar code.