Back الرقم العالمي للسلع والمنتجات Arabic European Article Number Bashkir EAN Bulgarian Codi de barres EAN Catalan European Article Number Czech International Article Number (EAN) Danish European Article Number German EAN Greek Internacia Varnumero Esperanto European Article Number Spanish
International Article Number, also known as European Article Number (EAN), is a global standard that defines a barcode format and a unique numbering system used in retail and trade. It helps identify specific types of retail products based on their packaging and manufacturer, making it easier to track and manage products across international supply chains.
Originally developed to simplify product identification in stores, the EAN system has been integrated into the broader Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) standard managed by GS1, a worldwide organization responsible for such standards. While GTIN covers various barcode types, EAN remains one of the most widely recognized formats, especially at retail point-of-sale systems. Beyond just checkout scanning, these numbers are also used for inventory control, wholesale transactions, and accounting processes.
The most widely used version is EAN-13, a thirteen-digit format that evolved from the earlier 12-digit Universal Product Code (UPC-A). EAN-13 includes a prefix that indicates either the country of registration or the type of product. For example, a prefix starting with "0" refers to a UPC-A code, while prefixes "45" or "49" identify Japanese Article Numbers.
In cases where space is limited on packaging, the shorter EAN-8 format is used. Additionally, there are EAN-2 and EAN-5 supplements, which are shorter barcodes typically printed beside EAN-13. These supplemental codes are commonly used in magazines, books, and food items to provide extra information like issue numbers or retail prices.
Overall, EAN has become an essential tool in global commerce, ensuring seamless identification and processing of products in a standardized and automated manner.