A GS1-128 barcode is a type of barcode built with the GS1-128 standard (formerly known as UCC/EAN-128 standard).
The GS1-128 barcode is based on the Code 128 and is the logistics standard for tracking and tracing transport goods.
The GS1-128 barcode is composed of a barcode and an identification number.
The identification number is composed of so-called Application Identifiers (AI) and their corresponding values. An example of identification number would be:
(YY) XXXX (ZZ) XXXX
where (YY) and (ZZ) are the Application Identifiers and XXXX their values.
Application Identifiers are placed within parenthesis and used to identify their corresponding values. For example: (00) is the Application Identifier for the Serial Shipping Container Code, while (01) is the Application Identifier for the Global Trade Item Number.
An Application Identifier always precedes its value. There are currently over 100 Application Identifiers to identify values such as the already mentioned Serial Shipping Container Code and Global Trade Item Number.
In some cases, identification numbers also contain a Function Code 1 (FNC1) between an Application Identifier and the value that precedes it. This only happens when the Application Identifiers are not placed within parenthesis. The purpose of a FNC1 is to distinguish a value with variable length from the Application Identifier that follows it. Otherwise, it would not be possible to tell when a value ends and an Application Identifier starts.
In contrast to the Code 128, the GS1-128 barcode can encode various information in one code. For example: in addition to the item number, a GS1-128 barcode can encode its best before date, its batch number or its net weight.
Most often the GS1-128 barcode is used on GS1 transport labels like SSCC labels.
In addition to the sender and article number, GS1 transport labels also show the number of the shipping unit, allowing the traceability of goods along the supply chain.
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