What is a bar code? A bar code is simply a way of representing data through a series of machine-readable bars and spaces. When this pattern of bars and spaces is scanned, the elements that make up the symbol give a reflective (a space) or non-reflective (a bar) response that the bar code reader converts into a readable character code message.

In reality, the characters that make up a bar code are not much different than the characters of the font that you are reading right now. In both cases, each character is signified as a dark shape against a light background and put together in a specific order, they form an intelligible message. The difference is that that the bars and spaces that compose a bar code simply provide the easiest and most accurate format for recognition by scanning devices.

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