View source for Universal Product Code

{{short description|Barcode symbology used for tracking trade items in stores}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
[[File:UPC-A-036000291452.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|A UPC barcode]]
The '''Universal Product Code''' ('''UPC''' or '''[[RAS syndrome|UPC code]]''') is a [[barcode#Symbologies|barcode symbology]] that is used worldwide for tracking [[trade item]]s in stores.

The chosen symbology has bars (or spaces) of exactly 1, 2, 3, or 4 units wide each; each decimal digit to be encoded consists of two bars and two spaces chosen to have a total width of 7 units, in both an "even" and an "odd" [[wikt:parity#Noun|parity]] form, which enables being scanned in either direction.  Special "guard patterns" (3 or 5 units wide, not encoding a digit) are intermixed to help decoding. 

A UPC (technically, a UPC-A) consists of 12 digits that are uniquely assigned to each trade item. The international [[GS1]] organisation assigns the digits used for both the UPC and the related [[International Article Number (EAN)|International Article Number]] (EAN) barcode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gs1us.org/standards/barcodes/ean_upc|title=GS1 BARCODE CHART|work=[[GS1 US]]|date=3 April 2013|access-date=7 July 2011|archive-date=7 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107170822/http://www.gs1us.org/standards/barcodes/ean_upc|url-status=dead}}</ref> UPC data structures are a component of [[Global Trade Item Number]]s (GTINs) and follow the global GS1 specification, which is based on international standards. Some retailers, such as clothing and furniture, do not use the GS1 system, instead using other barcode symbologies or article number systems. Some retailers use the EAN/UPC barcode symbology, but do not use a GTIN for products sold only in their own stores.

Research indicates that the adoption and diffusion of the UPC stimulated innovation and contributed to the growth of international retail supply chains.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Basker|first1=Emek|last2=Simcoe|first2=Timothy|date=2021|title=Upstream, Downstream: Diffusion and Impacts of the Universal Product Code|url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/712762|journal=Journal of Political Economy|volume=129|issue=4|pages=1252–1286|doi=10.1086/712762|s2cid=229505646|issn=0022-3808|access-date=14 March 2021|archive-date=17 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517090546/https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/712762|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Duplication|section|dupe=Barcode#History|date=December 2013}}

Wallace Flint proposed an automated checkout system in 1932 using [[punched card]]s. [[Bernard Silver]] and [[Norman Joseph Woodland]], a graduate student from [[Drexel University|Drexel Institute of Technology]], developed a bull's-eye-style code and applied for the patent in 1949.<ref>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2612994 |status=patent |title=Classifying Apparatus and Method |gdate=7 October 1952 |fdate=20 October 1949 |inventor1-first=Norman J. |inventor1-last=Woodland |inventor2-first=Bernard |inventor2-last=Silver |inventor2-link=Bernard Silver}}</ref><ref name="IMBhist"/>

In the 1960s and early 1970s, [[Rail transport|railroads]] in North America experimented with [[KarTrak|multicolor bar codes]] for tracking [[Railroad car|railcars]], but this system was eventually abandoned<ref>{{Cite journal |date=March 2010 |title=A Brief History of the Bar Code |journal=Esquire |volume=153 |issue=3 |page=42 |url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/48193041/brief-history-bar-code|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601051655/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/48193041/brief-history-bar-code|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 June 2016}}</ref> and replaced with a radio-based system called [[Automatic equipment identification|Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI)]].

In 1973, a group of trade associations from the grocery industry formed the [[GS1 US|Uniform Product Code Council]] (UPCC) which, with the help of consultants Larry Russell and Tom Wilson of [[McKinsey & Company]], defined the numerical format that formed the basis of the Uniform Product Code.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/values_that_matter/our_innovative_history |title=Our innovative history – McKinsey firsts |year=2013 |work=mckinsey.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012024123/https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/values_that_matter/our_innovative_history |archive-date=12 October 2013 |url-status=dead}} (see slide 10 of 18)</ref> Technology firms including Charegon, [[IBM]], Litton-Zellweger, Pitney Bowes-Alpex, Plessey-Anker, [[RCA]], Scanner Inc., Singer, and [[DYMO Corporation|Dymo Industries]]/Data General, put forward alternative proposals for symbol representations to the council.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} The Symbol Selection Committee finally chose to implement the IBM proposal designed by [[George J. Laurer]] in the North Carolina [[Research Triangle Park]] but with a slight modification to the font in the human readable area.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}

The first UPC-marked item ever to be scanned at a retail checkout was a 10-pack (50 sticks) of [[Wrigley's]] [[Juicy Fruit]] chewing gum, purchased at the [[Marsh Supermarkets|Marsh supermarket]] in [[Troy, Ohio]], at 8:01&nbsp;a.m. on 26 June 1974.<ref name=Nelson>{{cite book|last1=Nelson|first1=Benjamin|title=Punched Cards to Bar Codes: A 200 Year Journey with Descriptions of over 260 Codes|year=1997|publisher=Helmers Publishing|location=Peterborough, N.H.|isbn=978-091126112-7}}</ref> The [[NCR Corporation|NCR]] cash register rang up 67 cents.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Alfred |first=Randy |url=https://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/06/dayintech_0626?currentPage=2 |title=June 26, 1974: By Gum! There's a New Way to Buy Gum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824113107/http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/06/dayintech_0626?currentPage=2 |archive-date=24 August 2010 |url-status=live |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=26 June 2008}}</ref> 
The shopping cart also contained other barcoded items but the gum was the first one picked up at the checkout. A facsimile of the gum packet went on display at the [[Smithsonian Institution]]'s [[National Museum of American History|American history museum]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://harvardmagazine.com/2005/09/scanning-species-html |title=Scanning Species |version=September–October 2005 |first=Nathan |last=Heller |magazine=[[Harvard Magazine]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The History of the Bar Code|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/history-bar-code-180956704/|publisher=Smithsonian|date=23 September 2015|access-date=12 August 2021|archive-date=9 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209200805/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/history-bar-code-180956704/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Murray Eden]] was a consultant on the team that created the Universal Product Code barcode.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oral-History: Murray Eden - Engineering and Technology History Wiki|url=https://ethw.org/Oral-History:Murray_Eden#About_Murray_Eden|date=10 November 1999|access-date=4 January 2021|website=ethw.org|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121012742/https://ethw.org/Oral-History:Murray_Eden#About_Murray_Eden|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=National Commission on Productivity and Work Quality|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=je7ugzk85CYC&pg=PA15|title=Technology Applied to the Food Industry: A Preliminary Report|date=1975|page=15|language=en|access-date=14 January 2021|archive-date=19 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319090946/https://books.google.com/books?id=je7ugzk85CYC&pg=PA15|url-status=live}}</ref> As Chairman of a committee of scientists at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], he helped "select a symbol that would endure the inevitable rush of technology that lay ahead."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Haberman|first=Alan L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yeKRAAAAIAAJ&q=Murray+Eden|title=Twenty-Five Years Behind Bars: The Proceedings of the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the U.P.C. at the Smithsonian Institution, September 30, 1999|date=2001|publisher=Harvard University Wertheim Publications Committee|isbn=978-0-674-00657-7|pages=74,108|language=en}}</ref> He chose the font, and he came up with the idea to add numbers to the bottom, which is a [[fail-safe]] system, in case the barcode reader is not working correctly.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Casanova|first=Stephanie|title=Murray Eden, a biomedical engineer with a love of singing, dies in Tucson at 99|url=https://tucson.com/news/local/murray-eden-a-biomedical-engineer-with-a-love-of-singing-dies-in-tucson-at-99/article_30e24a8e-7b61-56e7-9b32-bc521fb11707.html|access-date=14 January 2021|website=Arizona Daily Star|date=18 August 2020 |language=en|archive-date=14 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114060837/https://tucson.com/news/local/murray-eden-a-biomedical-engineer-with-a-love-of-singing-dies-in-tucson-at-99/article_30e24a8e-7b61-56e7-9b32-bc521fb11707.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Roth|first=Brad|date=17 April 2020|title=Murray Eden|url=https://bradroth.medium.com/murray-eden-740c0ab08694|access-date=14 January 2021|website=Medium|language=en|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121043615/https://bradroth.medium.com/murray-eden-740c0ab08694|url-status=live}}</ref>

== IBM proposal ==
Around late 1969, IBM at [[Research Triangle Park]] (RTP) in North Carolina assigned [[George J. Laurer|George Laurer]] to determine how to make a supermarket scanner and label. In late 1970, Heard Baumeister provided equations to calculate characters-per-inch achievable by two IBM bar codes, Delta A and Delta B. In February 1971, Baumeister joined Laurer.

Delta B compared bar widths to space width to code bits. This was extremely sensitive to ink spread, where improper levels of ink or pressure would cause both edges of a bar to spread outward or shrink in.

In mid 1971, William "Bill" Crouse invented a new bar code called Delta C.<ref name="IMBhist">{{cite web| url= https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/ibm100/us/en/icons/upc/| title= UPC - The Transformation of Retail| website= IBM| date= 7 March 2012| access-date= 12 November 2021| archive-date= 12 November 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211112162517/https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/ibm100/us/en/icons/upc/| url-status= live}}</ref>
It achieved four times the characters per inch as Delta B.

Delta C achieved its higher performance by only using leading to leading or trailing to trailing edges which was unaffected by uniform ink spread.  The code provided best performance when it had a defined character set with a fixed reference distance that spanned most or preferably all the character.

In August 1971, Crouse joined the scanner effort. After several months they had made no progress. They were aware of the RCA bull's eye label that could be scanned with a simple straight line laser scanner, but a readable label was far too large.

Although Litton Industries proposed a bull's eye symbol cut in half to reduce the area, it was still too large and presented the same ink smear printing problems as the RCA symbol. The redundancy and checking ability were removed completely. They were also aware of the many proposals from around the world, none of which were feasible.

[[File:UPC HKB.png|thumb|right|300px|The UPC Label showing the general characteristics of Baumeister's proposals]]

In the spring of 1972, Baumeister announced a breakthrough.  He proposed a label with bars that were slightly longer than the distance across all bars that needed to be read in a single pass. This label could be scanned with a simple "X" scanner only slightly more complex than the straight line laser scanner. The next day Baumeister suggested if the label were split into two halves the bar lengths could be cut nearly in half.

These two proposals reduced the area from the bull's eye by one third and then one sixth. The image to the right shows the label proposed by Baumeister.  He did not specify any specific bar code as that was well understood. Except for the bar coding and ten digits the UPC label today is his proposal.  Shortly after that Baumeister transferred to another area of RTP.

Laurer proceeded to define the details of the label and write a proposal. N.J. Woodland was assigned as planner for the project and aided Laurer with writing his proposal.

Laurer's first attempt with a bar code used Delta B. The resulting label size was about six inches by three inches which was too large. Crouse suggested that Laurer use his Delta C bar code and provided a copy of his patent that had a sample alphanumeric character set and rules to generate other size alphabets. This reduced the label size to about {{cvt|1.5|x|0.9|in}}.

Later Laurer asked Crouse for assistance in how the scanner could detect a label. Together they defined guard bars and a definition of how to detect the label. The guard bars also provided identification for half label discrimination and training bars for the scanner threshold circuits. Laurer had a complete label definition and proceeded to write his proposal.<ref name="UMalumni">{{cite web|url=http://www.alumni.umd.edu/about/alumnihallfame_bios.html |title=Alumni Hall Of Fame Members |access-date=10 June 2009 |year=2005 |work= University of Maryland Alumni Association |publisher=The University of Maryland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623090457/http://www.alumni.umd.edu/about/alumnihallfame_bios.html |archive-date=23 June 2007 |quote=After graduating from Maryland in 1951, George Laurer joined IBM as a junior engineer and worked up the ranks to senior engineer. In 1969, he returned to the technical side of engineering and was later assigned the monumental task of designing a code and symbol for product identification for the Uniform Grocery Product Code Council. His solution—the Universal Product Code—radically changed the retail world. Since then, he has enhanced the code by adding a 13th digit.}}</ref>

Previously Crouse had an idea for a simple wand worn like a ring and bracelet. He decided to develop that wand to provide a demonstration of the label.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}

On 1 December 1972, IBM presented Laurer's proposal to the Super Market Committee in [[Rochester, Minnesota]], the location where IBM would develop the scanner. During the presentation, Crouse gave a lab demonstration where he read UPC-like labels with his ring wand. In addition to reading regular labels, he read the large two-page centerfold label in the proposal booklet. He then turned to a page showing a photo of labeled items sitting on a table. The labels were small and flawed due to the resolution of the printed photo but the wand read many of them. This demonstration showed the robustness of the pure Delta C code. The proposal was accepted.

One month later, 1 January 1973 Crouse transferred back to IBM's Advanced Technology group, and Laurer remained with the full responsibility for the label.

[[DYMO Corporation|Dymo Industries]], makers of handheld printing devices insisted that the code be character independent,{{Clarify|reason=cannot find relevant definition for this term anywhere|date=January 2013}} so that handheld printing devices could produce the bar code in store if the items were not bar-coded by the manufacturers. Dymo's proposal was accepted by IBM and incorporated in IBM's latest proposal.

It was decided that the two halves of the label should have a different set of numeric characters. The character set Laurer derived from the Delta C patent used seven printable increments or units where two bars and two spaces would be printed.  This yielded twenty combinations of characters, but there were two pairs that when read by Delta C rules yielded the same code for the pair.

Since eighteen characters were not enough Laurer tried adding one unit to the character set. This yielded twenty-six Delta C characters which could provide the two sets of decimal characters but it also added fourteen percent to the width of the label and thereby the height. This would be a thirty percent increase in area or a label of {{cvt|1.7|x|1.03|in}}. Laurer felt this was not acceptable.

Laurer returned to the original character set with twenty characters but four of those were two pairs with the same Delta C reading. He decided to use them all. To distinguish between the pairs he would measure one bar width in each of the pairs to distinguish them from each other. For each pair those bars would be one or two units wide.

Laurer did not apply Baumeister's equations to this set. He felt just one bar width measurement would not be too serious. As it turned out it would have required over fifty percent increase in width and height for an area increase of more than double. Laurer later admitted these four characters in each set were responsible for most of the scanner read errors.

David Savir, a mathematician, was given the task of proving the symbol could be printed and would meet the reliability requirements, and was most likely unaware of Baumeister's equations. He and Laurer added two more digits to the ten for [[error detection and correction]].

Then they decided to add odd/even parity to the number of units filled with bars in each side. Odd/even parity is a technique used to detect any odd number of bit errors in a bit stream. They decided to use odd on one half and even on the other. This would provide additional indication of which half ticket was being read.  This meant that every bar width had to be read accurately to provide a good reading. It also meant every space would also be known.

Requiring every bit width to be read precisely basically nullified the Delta C advantage except for the Delta C reference measurement. Only the strange character set and the size of the label remains as a shadow of the Delta C code.  The size was still that calculated for pure Delta C.  If the label size had been properly recalculated, taking into account the required bar width measurements the label would have been far too large to be acceptable.

Mechanical engineering and electronic circuit design commonly require worst case designs using known tolerances. Many engineers working with bar codes had little experience with such things and used somewhat intuitive methods. This was the cause of the poor performance of the Delta B code and quite likely the failure of RCA's bull's eye scanner.

The following table shows the workable labels, available in the early 1970s, with their sizes.
{| class = "wikitable"
! Label type !! Label dimensions !! Area
|-
| Bull's eye with Morse Code || Large || Large
|-
| Bull's eye with Delta B || {{convert|12.0|in|abbr=on}} diameter || {{convert|113.10|in2|abbr=on}}
|-
| Bull's eye with Delta A || {{convert|9.0|in|abbr=on}} diameter || {{convert|63.62|in2|abbr=on}}
|-
| Baumeister 1st w/ Delta B || {{convert|6.0|x|5.8|in|abbr=on}} || {{convert|34.80|in2|abbr=on}}
|-
| Baumeister 2 halves w/ Delta B || {{convert|6.0|x|3.0|in|abbr=on}} || {{convert|18.00|in2|abbr=on}}
|-
| Baumeister 2 halves w/ Delta A || {{convert|4.5|x|2.3|in|abbr=on}} || {{convert|10.35|in2|abbr=on}}
|-
| Baumeister with Delta C || {{convert|1.5|x|0.9|in|abbr=on}} || {{convert|1.35|in2|abbr=on}}
|}

This is assuming a bull's eye with the same information and reliable readability.

== Composition ==
Each UPC-A barcode consists of a scannable strip of black bars and white spaces above a sequence of 12 numerical digits. No alphabetic characters, symbols, or other characters of any kind can appear on a UPC-A barcode. There is a one-to-one correspondence between 12-digit number and strip of black bars and white spaces, i.e. there is only one way to represent each 12-digit number visually and there is only one way to represent each strip of black bars and white spaces numerically.

The scannable area of every UPC-A barcode follows the pattern S<u>L</u>LLLLLMRRRRR<u>R</u>E, where S (start), M (middle), and E (end) guard patterns are represented the same way on every UPC-A barcode and the L (left) and R (right) sections collectively represent the 12 numerical digits that make each UPC-A unique. The first digit <u>L</u> indicates a particular number system to be used by the following digits. The last digit <u>R</u> is an [[Error detection and correction|error detecting]] [[check digit]], that allows some errors to be detected in scanning or manual entry. The guard patterns separate the two groups of six numerical digits and establish the timing.

{| style="border-spacing: 2px; border: 1px solid darkgray;"
! style="width: 143px;" | UPC-A
! style="width: 82px;" | UPC-E
|- style="vertical-align: bottom;
| [[File:UPC-A.png|143px]]
| [[File:UPC-E.png|82px]]
|}
<small>UPC-A 042100005264 is equivalent to UPC-E 425261 with the "EOEEOO" parity pattern, which is defined by UPC-A number system 0 and UPC-A check digit 4.</small>

=== Formatting ===
UPC-A barcodes can be printed at various densities to accommodate a variety of printing and scanning processes. The significant dimensional parameter is called x-dimension (width of single module element). The width of each bar (space) is determined by multiplying the x-dimension and the module width (1, 2, 3, or 4 units) of each bar (space). Since the guard patterns each include two bars, and each of the 12 digits of the UPC-A barcode consists of two bars and two spaces, all UPC-A barcodes consist of exactly (3&nbsp;×&nbsp;2)&nbsp;+&nbsp;(12&nbsp;×&nbsp;2)&nbsp;=&nbsp;30 bars, of which 6 represent guard patterns and 24 represent numerical digits.

The x-dimension for the UPC-A at the nominal size is 0.33&nbsp;mm (0.013"). Nominal symbol height for UPC-A is 25.9&nbsp;mm (1.02"). The bars forming the S (start), M (middle), and E (end) guard patterns, are extended downwards by 5 times x-dimension, with a resulting nominal symbol height of 27.55&nbsp;mm (1.08"). This also applies to the bars of the first and last numerical digit of UPC-A barcode. UPC-A can be reduced or magnified anywhere from 80% to 200%.

A quiet zone, with a width of at least 9 times the x-dimension, must be present on each side of the scannable area of the UPC-A barcode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.codeproject.com/KB/graphics/upc_a_barcode.aspx|title=Drawing UPC-A Barcodes with C#|author=rainman_63|date=6 April 2005|work=codeproject.com|access-date=7 July 2011|archive-date=29 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829061253/http://www.codeproject.com/KB/graphics/upc_a_barcode.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yrELQAAACAAJ|title=UPC Symbol Specification Manual |year=1986 |publisher=[[Uniform Code Council]]}}</ref> For a GTIN-12 number encoded in a UPC-A barcode, the first and last digits of the [[human-readable interpretation]] are always placed outside the symbol in order to indicate the quiet zones that are necessary for UPC barcode scanners to work properly.

== Encoding ==
{|class="wikitable floatright collapsible" style="text-align:center;font-size:85%;"
|+UPC number encoding
! Value
! colspan=7 | L encoding
! rowspan=11 style="font-size:10%; | &nbsp;
! colspan=7 | R encoding
|-
! 0<!--3211-->
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=3 | 3
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=3 | 3
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
|-
! 1<!--2221-->
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
|-
! 2<!--2122-->
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=2 | 2
|-
! 3<!--1411-->
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=4 | 4
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=4 | 4
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
|-
! 4<!--1132-->
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=3 | 3
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=3 | 3
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=2 | 2
|-
! 5<!--1231-->
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=3 | 3
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=3 | 3
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
|-
! 6<!--1114-->
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=4 | 4
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=4 | 4
|-
! 7<!--1312-->
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=3 | 3
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=3 | 3
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=2 | 2
|-
! 8<!--1213-->
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=3 | 3
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=3 | 3
|-
! 9<!--3112-->
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=3 | 3
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=2 | 2
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=3 | 3
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#000;color:#fff;" colspan=1 | 1
| style="background:#fff;color:#000;" colspan=2 | 2
|}

The UPC-A barcode is visually represented by strips of bars and spaces that encode the UPC-A 12-digit number. Each digit is represented by a unique pattern of 2 bars and 2 spaces. The bars and spaces are variable width, i.e. 1, 2, 3, or 4 modules wide. The total width for a digit is always 7 modules; consequently, UPC-A 12-digit number requires a total of {{nowrap|7&times;12 {{=}} 84 modules}}.

A complete UPC-A is 95 modules wide: 84 modules for the digits (L and R sections) combined with 11 modules for the S (start), M (middle), and E (end) guard patterns. The S (start) and E (end) guard patterns are 3 modules wide and use the pattern ''bar-space-bar'', where each bar and space is one module wide. The M (middle) guard pattern is 5 modules wide and uses the pattern ''space-bar-space-bar-space'', where each bar and space is also one module wide. In addition, a UPC-A symbol requires a quiet zone (extra space of 9 modules wide) before the S (start) and after the E (end) guard patterns.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; background-color:#80A080"
|+ Encoding table for UPC-A barcode pattern S<u>L</u>LLLLLMRRRRR<u>R</u>E
! rowspan="2" | Quiet<br />zone
! rowspan="2" | S<br />(start)
! colspan="10" | L<br />(left numerical digit)
! rowspan="2" | M<br />(middle)
! colspan="10" | R<br />(right numerical digit)
! rowspan="2" | E<br />(end)
! rowspan="2" | Quiet<br />zone
|-
! 0 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 0 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9
|- valign="top"
| [[File:UPC-A Q.svg|27x250px]] || [[File:UPC-A S.svg|10x250px]] || [[File:UPC-A L0.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A L1.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A L2.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A L3.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A L4.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A L5.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A L6.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A L7.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A L8.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A L9.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A M.svg|15x250px]] || [[File:UPC-A R0.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A R1.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A R2.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A R3.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A R4.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A R5.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A R6.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A R7.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A R8.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A R9.svg|21x235px]] || [[File:UPC-A S.svg|10x250px]] || [[File:UPC-A Q.svg|27x250px]]
|}

The UPC-A's left-hand side digits (the digits to the left of the M (middle) guard pattern) have odd parity, which means the total width of the black bars is an odd number of modules. On the contrary, the right-hand side digits have even parity. Consequently, a UPC scanner can determine whether it is scanning a symbol from left-to-right or from right-to-left (the symbol is upside-down). After seeing a S (start) or E (end) guard pattern (they are the same, ''bar-space-bar'', whichever direction they are read), the scanner will first see odd parity digits, if scanning left-to-right, or even parity digits, if scanning right-to-left. With the parity/direction information, an upside-down symbol will not confuse the scanner. When confronted with an upside-down symbol, the scanner may simply ignore it (many scanners alternate left-to-right and right-to-left scans, so they will read the symbol on a subsequent pass) or recognize the digits and put them in the right order. There is another property in the digit encoding. The right-hand side digits are the optical inverse of the left-hand side digits, i.e. black bars are turned into white spaces and vice versa. For example, the left-hand side "4" is {{nowrap|space×1 - bar×1 - space×3 - bar×2}}, meanwhile the right-hand side "4" is {{nowrap|bar×1 - space×1 - bar×3 - space×2}}.

== Numbering ==
The number of UPC-A and UPC-E barcodes are limited by the standards used to create them.

; UPC-A: <math>\begin{align}
\text{(possible values per left digit)} ^ \text{(left digits)} &\times \text{(possible values per right digit)} ^ \text{(5 right digits)}\\
= 10^6 &\times 10^5 = 100,000,000,000.
\end{align}</math>
; UPC-E: <math>\begin{align}
\text{(possible values per digit)} ^ \text{(digits)} &\times \text{(possible parity patterns per UPC-E number)}\\
= 10^6 &\times 2 = 2,000,000.\end{align}</math>

=== Number system digit ===
Below is a description of all possible number systems with the corresponding 12-digit UPC-A numbering scheme <u>L</u>LLLLLRRRRR<u>R</u>, where <u>L</u> denotes the numbering system digit and <u>R</u> the check digit.
; 0–1, 6–9 : For most products. The LLLLL digits are the manufacturer code (assigned by local [[GS1#Standards|GS1]] organization), and the RRRRR digits are the product code.
; 2 : Reserved for local use (store/warehouse), for items sold by variable weight. Variable-weight items, such as meats, fresh fruits, or vegetables, are assigned an item number by the store, if they are packaged there. In this case, the LLLLL is the item number, and the RRRRR is either the weight or the price, with the first R determining which (0 for weight).
; 3 : Drugs by [[National Drug Code]] (NDC) number. Pharmaceuticals in the U.S. use the middle 10 digits of the UPC as their NDC number. Though usually only [[over-the-counter drug]]s are scanned at point of sale, NDC-based UPCs are used on prescription drug packages and surgical products and, in this case, are commonly called UPN Codes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barcodes for Pharmaceuticals and Surgical Products|url=https://upcs.com/blog/universal-product-number-upn-for-medical-pharmaceutical-surgical-products/|work=UPCs.com|date=24 March 2022|access-date=28 February 2023|archive-date=28 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228032708/https://upcs.com/blog/universal-product-number-upn-for-medical-pharmaceutical-surgical-products/|url-status=live}}</ref>
; 4 : Reserved for local use (store/warehouse), often for [[loyalty card]]s or store coupons.
; 5 : [[Coupon]]s. The LLLLL digits are digits 2-6 of the product's UPC prefix, the next three RRR are a family code (set by manufacturer or supplied by the coupon clearing house), and the next two RR are a value code (according to the GS1 value code table), which determines the amount of the discount. These coupons can be doubled or tripled.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barcodes for Coupons|url=https://www.simplybarcodes.com/barcode-coupons.html|work=SimplyBarcodes.com|access-date=16 February 2022|archive-date=16 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216234837/https://www.simplybarcodes.com/barcode-coupons.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Check digit calculation ===
The UPC includes a check digit to detect common data entry errors. For example, UPC-A codes choose the check digit <math>x_{12}</math> to satisfy the ''check digit equation'':
:<math>(3x_1 + x_2 + 3x_3 + x_4 + 3x_5 + x_6 + 3x_7 + x_8 + 3x_9 + x_{10} + 3x_{11} + x_{12}) \equiv 0 \pmod{10}.</math>
If an entered code does not satisfy the equation, then it is not a valid UPC-A.

The UPC-A check digit may be calculated as follows:

# Sum the digits at [[Parity (mathematics)|odd]]-numbered positions (first, third, fifth,..., eleventh).
# Multiply the result by 3.
# Add the digit sum at [[Parity (mathematics)|even]]-numbered positions (second, fourth, sixth,..., tenth) to the result.
# Find the result [[modulo]] 10 (i.e. the remainder, when divided by 10) and call it {{mvar|M}}.
# If {{mvar|M}} is zero, then the check digit is 0; otherwise the check digit is {{math|10 &minus; ''M''}}.

For example, in a UPC-A barcode "03600029145''x''<sub>12</sub>", where {{math|''x''<sub>12</sub>}} is the unknown check digit, {{math|''x''<sub>12</sub>}} may be calculated by:
# Sum the odd-numbered digits (0&nbsp;+&nbsp;6&nbsp;+&nbsp;0&nbsp;+&nbsp;2&nbsp;+&nbsp;1&nbsp;+&nbsp;5 = 14).
# Multiply the result by 3 (14 &times; 3 = 42).
# Add the even-numbered digits (42&nbsp;+&nbsp;(3&nbsp;+&nbsp;0&nbsp;+&nbsp;0&nbsp;+&nbsp;9&nbsp;+&nbsp;4) = 58).
# Find the result modulo 10 (58&nbsp;mod&nbsp;10 = 8 = ''M'').
# If {{mvar|M}} is not 0, subtract {{mvar|M}} from 10 ({{math|1=10 &minus; ''M'' = 10 &minus; 8 = 2}}).
Thus, the check digit {{math|''x''<sub>12</sub>}} is 2.

The check digit equation is selected to have reasonable error detection properties (see [[Luhn algorithm]]). 
* UPC-A can detect 100% of single digit errors.
*: A single digit error means exactly one digit is wrong. Let the difference modulo 10 of the erroneous digit and the correct digit be {{mvar|d}}. The value of {{mvar|d}} cannot be zero because that means the digits are the same, but {{mvar|d}} can be any other value in {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}. If the error digit is in an odd position (weight 1), the left hand side of check digit equation changes by {{mvar|d}} and the equivalence is no longer zero. If the error digit is in an even position (weight 3), then the left hand side changes by {{math|3''d''}}, but that change is also nonzero modulo 10, so the check digit equation is not satisfied.   
* UPC-A can detect about 89% of transposition errors. Specifically, if and only if the difference between two adjacent digits is 5, the UPC-A can't detect their transposition.
*# If 2 neighboring digits are transposed, then one of the digits {{mvar|a}} will be weighted by 1, and the other digit {{math|1=''b'' = ''a'' + ''d''}} will be weighted by 3, where {{mvar|d}} is the difference between the two digits. If the digits were in their correct order, they would contribute
*#::<math>1a + 3b = 1a + 3(a+d) = 4a + 3d</math>
*#:to the left hand side of the check digit equation. In the transposed order, they contribute
*#::<math>1b + 3a = 3a + 1(a+d) = 4a + d</math>.
*#:to the LHS. Subtracting the two contributions gives how much they change the LHS:
*#::<math>(4a + 3d) - (4a + d) = 2d</math>
*#:An error will be detected as long as the modular change is nonzero; if {{math|1=2d &equiv; 0}} modulo 10, then the change will not be detected. Consequently, only when the character difference {{math|''d'' &equiv; 5}} will an error be undetected (when {{math|''d'' &equiv; 0}} the degenerate "transposition" is not an error).
*# Next consider how often a transposition has a distance {{mvar|d}} of 5.
::::Here is the ''Table of d-transpositions for UPC-A barcodes'', where <math> d \in \{0, 1, 2, \ldots, 9\}:</math>
::::{|class="wikitable"
|+ Table of ''d''-transpositions for UPC-A barcodes
! {{diagonal split header | N°| ''d''}}
! 0 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9
|-
! 1
| 0 0 || 0 1 || 0 2 || 0 3 || 0 4 || 0 5 || 0 6 || 0 7 || 0 8 || 0 9
|-
! 2
| 1 1 || 1 2 || 1 3 || 1 4 || 1 5 || 1 6 || 1 7 || 1 8 || 1 9
|-
! 3
| 2 2 || 2 3 || 2 4 || 2 5 || 2 6 || 2 7 || 2 8 || 2 9 
|-
! 4
| 3 3 || 3 4 || 3 5 || 3 6 || 3 7 || 3 8 || 3 9  
|-
! 5
| 4 4 || 4 5 || 4 6 || 4 7 || 4 8 || 4 9    
|-
! 6
| 5 5 || 5 6 || 5 7 || 5 8 || 5 9   
|-
! 7
| 6 6 || 6 7 || 6 8 || 6 9   
|-
! 8
| 7 7 || 7 8 || 7 9  
|-
! 9
| 8 8 || 8 9  
|-
! 10
| 9 9
|-
! Sum
| 10 || 18 || 16 || 14 || 12 || 10 ||  8 ||  6 ||  4 ||  2
|}
::::Row '''Sum''' contains the number of ''d''-transpositions, therefore the proportion of non-detectable transposition errors is (ignoring the transpositions where {{math|1=''d'' = 0}}):
:::::<math>\frac{10}{18 + 16 + 14 + 12 + 10 + 8 + 6 + 4 + 2}=\frac{10}{90}=11.111\ldots\%.</math>
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::▯

== Variations ==
UPC in its most common usage technically refers to UPC-A.

Other variants of the UPC exist:
* UPC-B is a 12-digit version of UPC with no check digit, developed for the [[National Drug Code | National Drug Code (NDC)]] and National Health Related Items Code.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.healthdata.gov/dataset/nhric-national-health-related-items-code|website=HealthData|title=NHRIC (National Health Related Items Code)|publisher=U.S. Department of Health & Human Services|access-date=12 October 2015|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308015954/https://healthdata.gov/dataset/nhric-national-health-related-items-code|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=February 2017}}  It has 11 digits plus a 1-digit product code, and is not in common use.<ref name="adams1">{{cite web |url=https://www.adams1.com/upccode.html |title=Bar Code 1: A Web Of Information About Bar Code UPC and EAN Bar Code Page |date=20 June 2013 |work=Adams Communications |access-date=10 July 2019 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308005638/https://www.adams1.com/upccode.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* UPC-C is a 12-digit code with a product code and a check digit; not in common use.<ref name="adams1" />
* UPC-D is a variable length code (12 digits or more) with the 12th digit being the check digit. These versions are not in common use.
* UPC-E is a 6-digit code, that has its equivalent in UPC-A 12-digit code with number system 0 or 1.
* [[EAN 2|UPC-2]] is a 2-digit supplement to the UPC used to indicate the edition of a magazine or periodical.
* [[EAN 5|UPC-5]] is a 5-digit supplement to the UPC used to indicate suggested retail price for books.

=== UPC-E ===
To allow the use of UPC barcodes on smaller packages, where a full 12-digit barcode may not fit, a zero-suppressed  version of UPC was developed, called UPC-E, in which the number system digit, all trailing zeros in the manufacturer code, and all leading zeros in the product code, are suppressed (omitted).<ref>{{cite web|title=UPC-A Symbology – UPC-E background information and UPC-A to UPC-E conversion|url=http://www.barcodeisland.com/upce.phtml|website=barcodeisland.com|access-date=21 January 2013|archive-date=26 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226110541/http://www.barcodeisland.com/upce.phtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> This symbology differs from UPC-A in that it only uses a 6-digit code, does not use M (middle) guard pattern, and the E (end) guard pattern is formed as ''space-bar-space-bar-space-bar'', i.e. UPC-E barcode follows the pattern SDDDDDDE. The way in which a 6-digit UPC-E relates to a 12-digit UPC-A, is determined by UPC-E numerical pattern and UPC-E parity pattern. It can only correspond to UPC-A number system 0 or 1, the value of which, along with the UPC-A check digit, determines the UPC-E parity pattern of the encoding. With the manufacturer code digits represented by M's, and product code digits by P's, then:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! Last UPC-E digit !! UPC-E numerical pattern !! UPC-A equivalent !! Available product numbers
|-
| 0 || style="font-family:monospace;" | MMPPP0 || style="font-family:monospace;" | 0 or 1 + MM000-00PPP + check digit || style="font-family:monospace;" | PPP = 000-999
|-
| 1 || style="font-family:monospace;" | MMPPP1 || style="font-family:monospace;" | 0 or 1 + MM100-00PPP + check digit || style="font-family:monospace;" | PPP = 000-999
|-
| 2 || style="font-family:monospace;" | MMPPP2 || style="font-family:monospace;" | 0 or 1 + MM200-00PPP + check digit || style="font-family:monospace;" | PPP = 000-999
|-
| 3 || style="font-family:monospace;" | MMMPP3 || style="font-family:monospace;" | 0 or 1 + MMM00-000PP + check digit || style="font-family:monospace;" | PP = 00-99
|-
| 4 || style="font-family:monospace;" | MMMMP4 || style="font-family:monospace;" | 0 or 1 + MMMM0-0000P + check digit || style="font-family:monospace;" | P = 0-9
|-
| 5 || style="font-family:monospace;" | MMMMM5 || style="font-family:monospace;" | 0 or 1 + MMMMM-00005 + check digit || style="font-family:monospace;" | 5 = P
|-
| 6 || style="font-family:monospace;" | MMMMM6 || style="font-family:monospace;" | 0 or 1 + MMMMM-00006 + check digit || style="font-family:monospace;" | 6 = P
|-
| 7 || style="font-family:monospace;" | MMMMM7 || style="font-family:monospace;" | 0 or 1 + MMMMM-00007 + check digit || style="font-family:monospace;" | 7 = P
|-
| 8 || style="font-family:monospace;" | MMMMM8 || style="font-family:monospace;" | 0 or 1 + MMMMM-00008 + check digit || style="font-family:monospace;" | 8 = P
|-
| 9 || style="font-family:monospace;" | MMMMM9 || style="font-family:monospace;" | 0 or 1 + MMMMM-00009 + check digit || style="font-family:monospace;" | 9 = P
|}

For example, a UPC-E 654321 may correspond to the UPC-A 065100004327 or 165100004324, depending on the UPC-E parity pattern of the encoded digits, as described next:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! UPC-A <br />check digit 
! UPC-E parity pattern for UPC-A<br />
number system 0
! UPC-E parity pattern for UPC-A<br />
number system 1
|-
| 0 || style="font-family:monospace;" | EEEOOO || style="font-family:monospace;" | OOOEEE
|-
| 1 || style="font-family:monospace;" | EEOEOO || style="font-family:monospace;" | OOEOEE
|-
| 2 || style="font-family:monospace;" | EEOOEO || style="font-family:monospace;" | OOEEOE
|-
| 3 || style="font-family:monospace;" | EEOOOE || style="font-family:monospace;" | OOEEEO
|-
| 4 || style="font-family:monospace;" | EOEEOO || style="font-family:monospace;" | OEOOEE
|-
| 5 || style="font-family:monospace;" | EOOEEO || style="font-family:monospace;" | OEEOOE
|-
| 6 || style="font-family:monospace;" | EOOOEE || style="font-family:monospace;" | OEEEOO
|-
| 7 || style="font-family:monospace;" | EOEOEO || style="font-family:monospace;" | OEOEOE
|-
| 8 || style="font-family:monospace;" | EOEOOE || style="font-family:monospace;" | OEOEEO
|-
| 9 || style="font-family:monospace;" | EOOEOE || style="font-family:monospace;" | OEEOEO
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; background-color:#80A080;"
|+ Encoding table for UPC-E barcode pattern SDDDDDDE
! rowspan="2" | S<br/>(start)
! colspan="10" | O<br/>(odd parity digit)
! colspan="10" | E<br/>(even parity digit)
! rowspan="2" | E<br/>(end)
|-
! 0 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 0 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9
|- valign="top"
| [[File:UPC-E S.svg|10x250px]] || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 0ow.svg|21x235px]]<br />3-2-1-1 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 1ow.svg|21x235px]]<br />2-2-2-1 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 2ow.svg|21x235px]]<br />2-1-2-2 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 3ow.svg|21x235px]]<br />1-4-1-1 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 4ow.svg|21x235px]]<br />1-1-3-2 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 5ow.svg|21x235px]]<br />1-2-3-1 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 6ow.svg|21x235px]]<br />1-1-1-4 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 7ow.svg|21x235px]]<br />1-3-1-2 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 8ow.svg|21x235px]]<br />1-2-1-3 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 9ow.svg|21x235px]]<br />3-1-1-2 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 0ew.svg|21x235px]]<br />1-1-2-3 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 1ew.svg|21x235px]]<br />1-2-2-2 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 2ew.svg|21x235px]]<br />2-2-1-2 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 3ew.svg|21x235px]]<br />1-1-4-1 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 4ew.svg|21x235px]]<br />2-3-1-1 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 5ew.svg|21x235px]]<br />1-3-2-1 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 6ew.svg|21x235px]]<br />4-1-1-1 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 7ew.svg|21x235px]]<br />2-1-3-1 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 8ew.svg|21x235px]]<br />3-1-2-1 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E 9ew.svg|21x235px]]<br />2-1-1-3 || style="font-size:70%;" | [[File:UPC-E E.svg|18x250px]]
|}

UPC-E 654321 with "EOEOEO" parity pattern (UPC-A 065100004327) would be encoded as

:1-1-1 &nbsp;4-1-1-1 &nbsp;1-2-3-1 &nbsp;2-3-1-1 &nbsp;1-4-1-1 &nbsp;2-2-1-2 &nbsp;2-2-2-1 &nbsp;1-1-1-1-1-1.

The barcode would look like this: 
[[File:UPC-E-654321.png|center]]

=== EAN-13 ===
{{Main|International Article Number}}

The [[International Article Number|EAN-13]] was developed as a [[subset|superset]] of UPC-A, adding an extra digit to the beginning of every UPC-A number. This expanded the number of unique values theoretically possible by ten times to 1 trillion. EAN-13 barcodes also indicate the country in which the company that sells the product is based (which may or may not be the same as the country in which the good is manufactured). The three leading digits of the code determine this, according to the [[List of GS1 country codes|GS1 country codes]]. Every UPC-A code can be easily converted to the equivalent EAN-13 code by prepending 0 digit to the UPC-A code. This does not change the [[check digit]]. All [[point-of-sale]] systems can now understand both equally.

[[EAN-8]] is an 8-digit variation of the EAN barcode.

UPC usage notes:
* All products marked with an EAN will be accepted in North America currently, in addition to those already marked with a UPC.
* Products with an existing UPC do not have to be re-marked with an EAN.
* In North America, the EAN adds 30% more codes, mainly by adding digits 10 through 12 to the UPC digits 00 through 09. This is a powerful incentive to phase out the UPC.

== See also ==
* [[GS1]] – International supply-chain standards organization
* [[Proof of purchase]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite patent
 |inventor-last= Bilgutay
 |inventor-first= Ilhan M.
 |country-code= US
 |patent-number= 3832686
 |publication-date= 11 May 1972
|issue-date= 27 August 1974
 |title= Bar Code Font
 |description= |ref=none }}
*{{cite patent
 |inventor-last= Brainerd
 |inventor-first= H. B.
 |country-code= US
 |patent-number= 3145291
 |publication-date= 2 July 1959
|issue-date= 18 April 1964
 |title= Identification System
 |description= |ref=none }} Railroad bar code.
*{{cite patent
 |inventor-last= Shields
 |inventor-first= Charles B.
 |inventor2-last= Stapelfeldt
 |inventor2-first= Roelif
 |country-code= US
 |patent-number= 3617707
 |publication-date= 17 August 1967
|issue-date= 2 November 1971
 |title= Automatic car identification system
 |description= |ref=none }}
*{{cite patent
 |inventor-last= Crouse
 |inventor-first= William G.
 |inventor2-last= Jones
 |inventor2-first= John E.
 |country-code= US
 |patent-number= 3723710
 |publication-date= 28 June 1971
|issue-date= 27 March 1973
 |title= Method and Device for Reading and Decoding a High Density Self-Clocking Bar Code
 |description= |ref=none }}

== External links ==
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707033655/http://www.idhistory.com/ |date=7 July 2019 |title=UPC History - ID History Museum - Where the history of the UPC lives }}
* [http://www.upc-search.org/ UPC-Search.org] Free online database of UPCs
* [https://www.gs1.org/standards/id-keys/company-prefix/ GS1 company prefix] GS1 three-digit prefix list indicating country of origin of company in UPC code (not necessarily country of manufacture)

{{Barcodes}}
{{IBM}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Barcodes]]
[[Category:American inventions]]
[[Category:Checksum algorithms]]
[[Category:Identifiers]]
[[Category:Unique identifiers]]
[[Category:Product classifications]]
[[Category:20th-century inventions]]

[[hu:Universal Product Code]]
[[ja:バーコード#統一商品コード]]