This glossary provides definitions for the implementation of GS1 Standards.

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AI
Abbreviation for Application Identifier

AIDC
Abbreviation for Automatic Identification and Data Capture

Add-on symbol
A bar code symbol used to encode information supplementary to that in the main bar code symbol

Alphanumeric (an)
Describes a character set that contains alphabetic characters (letters), numeric digits (numbers), and other characters, such as punctuation marks

Application identifier
The field of, three or four numbers at the beginning of an Element String that uniquely defines its format and meaning

Attribute
A piece of information reflecting a characteristic related to an identification number (e.g., Global Trade Item Number™ (GTIN™), SSCC)

Brand owner
The party that is responsible for allocating GS1 System numbering and bar code symbols on a given trade item. The administrator of an GS1 System Company Prefix

Check digit
A digit calculated from the other digits of an identifier such as a GTIN, used to check that the data has been correctly composed

Company number
A component of the GS1 Company Prefix. GS1 Member Organisations assign GS1 Company Prefixes to entities that administer the allocation of GS1 System identification numbers. These entities may be, for example, commercial companies, not for profit organisations, governmental agencies, and business units within organisations. Criteria to qualify for the assignment of an GS1 Company Prefix are set by the GS1 Member Organisations.

Composite component™
This term is used to refer to the 2D symbol component of a composite symbol

Composite symbology™
A GS1 System composite symbol consists of a linear component (encoding the item's primary identification) associated with an adjacent 2D Composite Component™ (encoding supplementary data, such as a batch number or expiration date). The composite symbol always includes a linear component so that the primary identification is readable by all scanning technologies, and so that 2D imager scanners can use the linear component as a finder pattern for the adjacent 2D Composite Component™. The composite symbol always includes one of three multi-row 2D Composite Component™ versions (e.g., CC-A, CC-B, CC-C) for compatibility with linear- and area-CCD scanners and with linear and rastering laser scanners

Contrast
See Symbol Contrast

Coupon
A voucher that can be redeemed at the Point-of-Sale for a cash value or free item
Customer
The party that receives, buys, or consumes an item or service

EAN International
EAN International is the former name of GS1

EAN-13 Bar Code Symbol
A bar code symbol of the EAN/UPC Symbology that encodes GTIN-13 Numbers

EAN-8 Bar Code Symbol
A bar code symbol of the EAN/UPC Symbology that encodes GTIN-8 Numbers

EDI
Abbreviation for Electronic Data Interchange

Electronic Message
A composition of Element Strings from scanned data and transaction information assembled for data validation and unambiguous processing in a user application

Element String
A piece of data defined in structure and meaning, comprising a defining part (prefix or Application Identifier) and a data part, represented in an GS1 System endorsed data carrier

Fixed Measure Trade Item
An item always produced in the same pre-defined version (e.g., type, size, weight, contents, design) that may be sold at any point in the supply chain

Fixed length
Term used to describe a data field in an Element String with an established number of characters

GIAI
Abbreviation for the Global Individual Asset Identifier

GLN
Abbreviation for the Global Location Number

GRAI
Abbreviation for the Global Returnable Asset Identifier

GS1
GS1, based in Brussels, Belgium, and who manages the GS1 standards for bar codes, business messaging, RFID and GDS.

GS1-128 Bar Code Symbol
A subset of the Code 128 that is utilised exclusively for GS1 System data structures

GS1 System
The specifications, standards, and guidelines administered by GS1

GS1 check digit calculation
A GS1 System algorithm for the calculation of a Check Digit to verify accuracy of data decoded from a bar code symbol

GS1 common currency coupon Code
An identification number for coupons issued in a common currency area (e.g., the euro currency) that uses the GTIN-13 Data Structure

GS1 company prefix
Part of the international GS1 System data structures consisting of an GS1 Prefix and a Company Number, both of which are allocated by GS1 Member Organisations

GS1 DataBar Composite Symbology™ Family
A family of symbols comprised of the GS1 DataBar-14™ Composite Symbology™, GS1 DATABAR-14™ Stacked Composite Symbology™, GS1 DATABAR Limited™ Composite Symbology™, and GS1 DATABAR Expanded™ Composite Symbology™

GS1 DataBar Expanded™ Bar Code Symbol
A bar code symbol that encodes an GTIN-14 Identification Number plus supplementary AI Element Strings, such as weight and “best before” date, in a linear symbol that can be scanned omnidirectionally by suitably programmed Point-of-Sale scanners

GS1 DataBar Expanded™ Composite Symbology™
The GS1 DataBar Composite Symbology™ that utilises an GS1 DataBar Expanded™ Bar Code Symbol as the linear component

GS1 DataBar Expanded™ Stacked Bar Code Symbol
A bar code symbol that is a variation of the GS1 DataBar Expanded™ Bar Code Symbol that is stacked in multiple rows and is used when the normal symbol would be too wide for the application

GS1 DataBar Expanded™ Stacked Composite Bar Code Symbol
The GS1 DataBar Composite Symbology™ that utilises an GS1 DataBar Expanded™ Stacked Bar Code Symbol as the linear component

GS1 DataBar Limited™ Bar Code Symbol
A bar code symbol that encodes an GTIN-14 Identification Number with Indicators of zero or one in a linear symbol; for use on small items that will not be scanned at the Point-of-Sale

GS1 DataBar Limited™ Composite Symbology™
The GS1 DataBar Composite Symbology™ that utilises an GS1 DataBar Limited™ Bar Code Symbol as the linear component

GS1 DataBar-14™ Bar Code Symbol
A bar code symbol that encodes an GTIN-14 Identification Number in a linear symbol that can be scanned omni-directionally by suitably programmed Point-of-Sale scanners

GS1 DataBar-14™ Composite Symbology™
The GS1 DataBar Composite Symbology™ that utilises an GS1 DataBar-14™ Bar Code Symbol as the linear component

GS1 DataBar-14™ Stacked Bar Code Symbol
A bar code symbol that is a variation of the GS1 DataBar-14™ Symbology that is stacked in two rows and is used when the normal symbol would be too wide for the application. It comes in two versions: a truncated version used for small item marking applications and a taller omni-directional version that is designed to be read by omni-directional scanners. GS1 DataBar Expanded™ can also be printed in multiple rows as a stacked symbol

GS1 DataBar-14™ Stacked Composite Symbology™
The GS1 DataBar Composite Symbology™ that utilises an GS1 DataBar-14™ Stacked Bar Code Symbol as the linear component

GS1 member organisation
A member of GS1 that is responsible for administering the GS1 System in its country (or assigned area) and for managing the correct use of the GS1 System by its member companies

GSRN
Abbreviation for the Global Service Relation Number

GTIN™
Abbreviation for the Global Trade Item Number™

GTIN-12 Data
The 12-digit GS1 System data structure composed of a UPC Company Prefix, Item Reference, and Check Digit

GTIN-14 number
The GS1 System identification number comprising 14 digits; used to identify trade items

GTIN-8 number
The GS1 System identification number comprising eight digits used to identify trade items and special applications

General Distribution Scanning
Scanning environments that include bar coded trade items packaged for transport, logistic units, assets and location tags

Global Individual Asset Identifier
A number that uniquely identifies an individual asset

Global Location Number
A number that the identifies physical, functional, or legal entities

Global Returnable Asset Identifier
A number that uses the EAN/UCC-13 or UCC-12 Data Structure to identify Asset Type combined with an optional serial number

Global Trade Item Number™
A Global Trade Item Number™ may be 8, 12, 13, or 14 digits in length

Human Readable Interpretation
Characters that can be read by persons, such as letters and numbers, as opposed to symbol characters within bar code symbols, which are read by machines

ITF Symbolology
The Interleaved 2 of 5 Symbology

ITF-14 Bar Code Symbol
An ITF Symbol used by the GS1 System to carry GTIN-12, GTIN-13 or GTIN-14 Numbers

Individual Asset
An entity that is part of the inventory of a given company (See also Returnable Asset)

Item Number
See Item Reference

Item Reference
The part of the data structure allocated by the user to identify a trade item for a given GS1 Company Prefix

Item Reference Number
See Item Reference

Light Margin
See Quiet Zone

Light Margin Indicator
See Quiet Zone Indicator

Location Number
See Global Location Number

Logistic unit
An item of any composition established for transport and/or storage that needs to be managed through the supply chain. It is identified with SSCC

Magnification
Different sizes of bar code symbols based on a nominal size and a fixed aspect ratio; stated as a percent or decimal equivalent of a nominal size

Manufacturer’s ID
See GS1 Company Prefix

Manufacturer’s Number
See GS1 Company Prefix

Payment slip
The end customer’s notification of a demand for payment for a billable service (e.g., utility bill) comprising an amount payable and payment conditions

Point-of-Sale (POS)
Refers to the retail type checkout where only EAN/UPC bar code symbols are normally scanned.

Quiet Zone
A clear space containing no machine readable marks, which precedes the Start Character of a bar code symbol and follows the Stop Character. Formerly referred to as “Clear Area” or “Light Margin"

Quiet Zone Indicator
A greater than (>) or less than (<) character, printed in the human readable field of the bar code symbol, with the tip aligned with the outer edge of the Quiet Zone

Reduced Space Symbology® (GS1 DATABAR)
A family of bar code symbols, including GS1 DataBar-14™, GS1 DataBar Limited™, GS1 DataBar Expanded™, and GS1 DataBar-14™ Stacked. Any member of the GS1 DataBar family can be printed as a stand-alone linear symbol or as a composite symbol with an accompanying 2D Composite Component™ printed directly above the GS1 DataBar linear component

Refund Receipt
A voucher produced by equipment handling empty containers (bottles and crates)

Restricted distribution
Signifies that such system data may be applied on goods to be processed only in certain environments, defined by the appropriate GS1 Member Organisation (e.g., a country, company, industry)

Retail consumer trade item
The trade item intended to be sold to the end consumer at retail Point-of-Sale. They are identified with unique GTIN-8s, GTIN-12s, GTIN-13s

Returnable Asset
A reusable entity owned by a company that is used for transport and storage of goods

SSCC
Term used for the Serial Shipping Container Code. The unique identification of a logistic unit using an 18-digit data structure

Scanner
An electronic device to read bar code symbols and convert them into electrical signals understandable by a computer device

Serial Shipping Container Code
See SSCC

Supplier
The party that produces, provides, or furnishes an item or service

Symbol
The combination of symbol characters and features required by a particular symbology, including Quiet Zone, Start and Stop Characters, data characters, and other auxiliary patterns, which together form a complete scannable entity; an instance of a symbology and a data structure

Symbol character
A group of bars and spaces in a symbol that is decoded as a single unit. It may represent an individual digit, letter, punctuation mark, control indicator, or multiple data characters

Symbology
A defined method of representing numeric or alphabetic characters in a bar code; a type of bar code

Trade item
Any item (product or service) upon which there is a need to retrieve pre-defined information and that may be priced, or ordered, or invoiced at any point in any supply chain

UPC-A Bar Code Symbol
A bar code symbol of the EAN/UPC Symbology that encodes GTIN-12 Identification Numbers

UPC-E Bar Code Symbol
A bar code symbol of the EAN/UPC Symbology representing a GTIN-12 Number in six explicitly encoded digits using zero-suppression techniques

Variable Measure Trade Item
An item always produced in the same pre-defined version (e.g., type, design, packaging) that may be sold at any point in the supply chain, which either may vary in weight/size by its nature or which may be traded without a pre-defined weight/size/length

X-dimension
The specified width of the narrow element in a bar code symbol