What is a Barcode Reader? (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

When you visit a supermarket, you might see the cashier scanning a code on the product at the billing counter. Within fractions of minutes, they calculate the total price and create the bill. The cashier can do the billing process faster with the help of a scanner. The scanner that is used to scan the barcode on the product is known as a barcode reader. A Barcode reader makes our work easier. In this article, we are going learn about the barcode reader, the workings of a barcode reader, applications, advantages, and disadvantages.

What is a Barcode Reader?

A barcode reader is an optical hardware input device that is used to read the information from the barcode pasted on the product and decode the information in a human-readable format. It is also used to upload the details of the product in the database. A barcode reader is connected to the computer with the help of wire Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection. It consists of a Scanner and an internal or external decoder. Decoders are used to decode the barcode to the human-readable form. Barcode readers are also called Point of Sales (POS).

Barcode Reader

What is a Barcode and Its Types?

A barcode is a set of horizontal/vertical lines with different widths and sizes, which stores the information about a product in an encrypted or machine-readable format.

Types of Barcode:

1. Horizontal Barcode.
2. Vertical Barcode.

• **Horizontal Barcodes:- It is a type of barcodes in which a set of horizontal parallel lines of different widths having spaces between lines are arranged in a linear structure is known as **Horizontal Barcode. Horizontal Barcodes are also known as _one-dimensional(1D) as well as _linear barcodes. **For Example:- International Standard Book Number(ISBN), European Article Number( EAN).
• **Vertical Barcode:- It is a type of barcode in which data is stored in the form pattern of squares, dots, and other shapes. The shapes( like dots, and square) are arranged in two dimensionally i.e. vertical and horizontal. It is also known as a two-dimensional( 2D) barcode. **Example:- Quick Response Code( QR code).

Working of Barcode Reader

A barcode is a combination of black lines and white spaces. A barcode reader throws a beam of lights on the barcode. As we know black color absorbs the light rays and white color reflects the light. In the same way, when the scanner emits lights on the barcode, the dark color(black) absorbs the light and the white color reflects the light back. The sensor present in the barcode reader captures the reflected light and converts it into an electrical signal( analog signal). Analog-Digital converter in the barcode reader converts the Analog signal to digital signals. Now, the role of decoders comes into action. Decoder are used to convert the digital signals into human-readable data.

**There are two types of decoders:-

• **Internal decoder:- This type of decoders are inbuilt in the barcode reader and decoding of digital signal to human-readable format is done by barcode reader only.
• **External decoder:- It is separate device which is not present in barcode reader. It is an external device to convert digital signals to meaningful data.

Application of Barcode Reader

• It is used in retail for billing purpose and managing the inventory.
• It is used in shipping and logistic sector to track the package and sorting the items for shipping.
• It is used in healthcare to track the patient health and their medication.
• It is used in library management to track the no. of books, no. of issued books, non-issued books , late submission and fine collection.
• It is used in Online payment using mobile phones. When we scan the QR code for payment. So, here our mobile works as barcode reader.
• It is also used for access control where entry can be done by scanning the QR code.
• It is also used by Highway authorities where scanner installed at toll plaza scan the FASTag pasted on the vehicle wind shield and deduct the amount from account linked with FASTag.

Advantage of Barcode Reader

• It is universally accepted technique, now a days most of the company uses barcode to track the product in every part of the globe .
• It saves time of customer and shopkeeper. Customer need not to wait for longer time in the queue for billing. Earlier, cashier used to create bill manually and it took lots of time.
• It increase efficiency as well accuracy. Earlier, Shopkeeper used to create bill manually so there were high chances of calculation mistakes.
• It reduces the errors in billing.
• It reduces human work in inventory management. Before barcode system inventory manager required lots of human resource to manually mange the inventory.

Disadvantage of Barcode Reader

• It is costly. It is a complex device.
• It can be used only for limited no. of information.
• It is less secure. It can be hacked easily.
• Physical damage of barcode gives incorrect information.
• It does not read the barcode properly if there is ink leakage on the barcode or if dust is present on the barcode.