What are UPC and EAN?
UPC-A and EAN-13 are familiar retail barcode symbols. UPC-A normally carries a 12-digit number and is common in North America. EAN-13 carries 13 digits and is widely used internationally. Modern retail scanners can often read both, but a retailer or marketplace may specify what it accepts.
UPC-E and EAN-8 are shorter symbols for identifiers that meet specific rules. They are not simply cropped versions of a longer number.
Where GTIN fits
A Global Trade Item Number, or GTIN, is the identifier for a trade item. GTIN-12 is commonly shown in UPC-A, while GTIN-13 is commonly shown in EAN-13. The final digit is a check digit calculated from the preceding digits; it helps detect common scanning or typing errors.
What GS1 does
GS1 is the standards organization that manages the global identification framework used for products, locations, and logistics. Businesses that need recognized retail identifiers commonly obtain them through a GS1 member organization. Requirements and available licensing options vary by country, marketplace, and trading partner.
A barcode generator creates the graphic, not the identifier. It can render your valid UPC or EAN number as bars, but it does not assign a GTIN, prove ownership, or register the product with a retailer.
When creating a retail barcode
- Ask the retailer or marketplace which identifier and symbol it requires.
- Use the number assigned to your business or product where required.
- Enter the digits exactly and confirm the check digit.
- Generate and print the symbol at a compliant size with adequate quiet zones.
- Test the finished package with the intended scanning workflow.
What about internal products?
If labels are only for your own inventory system, an internal identifier in CODE 128 may be a better fit. It avoids making an internal number look like an official retail GTIN and supports letters as well as numbers. Confirm the choice with the software and scanners that will use it.