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How To Read A UPC (Universal Product Code) Bar Code

The document explains how to read a UPC barcode, which contains a 12-digit code including a manufacturer code, product code, and check digit. It describes how to calculate the check digit and provides an example. It also shows how the digits are encoded in the barcode as binary 1s and 0s.

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43 views1 page

How To Read A UPC (Universal Product Code) Bar Code

The document explains how to read a UPC barcode, which contains a 12-digit code including a manufacturer code, product code, and check digit. It describes how to calculate the check digit and provides an example. It also shows how the digits are encoded in the barcode as binary 1s and 0s.

Uploaded by

reconrey
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Worksheet 2012 Larry Holder

www.utm.edu/staff/lholder

How to Read a UPC


(Universal Product Code) Bar Code

The 12 digits of a UPC Bar Code include: a 6-digit manufacturer's code, a 5-digit product code, and a 1-digit "check digit"
The Check Digit is calculated as follows:
- Sum up the digits in the odd positions, giving "a", then multiply by 3 giving "b"
- Sum up the digits in the even positions, excluding the 12th (check digit) position, giving "c"
- Add: b + c = d. The check digit is the value added to "d" to reach the next multiple of 10 (if already at a multiple of 10, the check digit is a zero).
Example for bar code of: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 5
0 + 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 0 = 20 20 x 3 = 60 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 = 25 60 + 25 = 85

90 - 85 = 5

A bar code is encoded as binary (1's are a line, 0's are a blank), as follows:
Left Start
Code

First 6 digits

101

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Center
Code

0001101
0011001
0010011
0111101
0100011
0110001
0101111
0111011
0110111
0001011

01010

Last 6 digits
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Right Start
Code

1110010
1100110
1101100
1000010
1011100
1001110
1010000
1000100
1001000
1110100

101

Notice especially how the first 6 digits and the last 6 digits are encoded exactly
opposite. This enables scanning to detect an "upside-down scan", since the left,
center, and right start codes cannot help (because they read the same right-sideup and upside-down).

Make up the first 11 digits (for example, using your 9-digit Student ID and the last 2 digits of the year you began college). Calculate the check digit.
Digit #
Position

1
Odd

2
Even

3
Odd

4
Even

5
Odd

6
Even

7
Odd

8
Even

9
Odd

10
Even

11
Odd

12
CK
DIGIT

Your #

Encode it in the spaces below (don't forget the Left Start, Center, and Right Start Codes!) For a binary "1" shade in the space; for a zero, leave it blank:

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