Posted on

GS1 Digital Link: An API for Every Thing

Everybody 'knows' GS1 because it's the organization that standardizes the EAN/UPC barcodes that we find on pretty much every product that we buy in supermarkets and elsewhere. These codes allow quick scanning at check-out where the product identity then is used to look up pricing information.

GS1 Digital Link moves the EAN/UPC barcode into the world of APIs: It turns the EAN/UPC identifiers into URLs which can be compressed, printed as QR codes so that they can be scanned with mobile phone cameras (they can also be scanned when presented via NFC), and then can be used to retrieve product information through an HTTP API.

Posted on

How to Create a Barcode Image in Java

Barcodes are used universally in commerce and retail to aid in tracking, purchasing, and inventory. This allows organizations to keep accurate records of their supplies, products, and other items that are pivotal to their operations. For international and national use, there are different barcodes that are utilized for specific contexts. For example, UPC and EAN barcodes look similar in their formatting and can be used in similar ways, but UPC is a largely North American coding system; however, both UPC and EAN are used globally. QR Codes are also used globally but are usually employed for sharing complex sets of information like item details or website links.  

The following five APIs will allow you to create barcode images in the three previously mentioned formats. This will allow you to print or create packaging with your personal barcodes attached, without needing to retrieve it from an outside source. This can be especially useful for small businesses as it provides increased independence as a company and improved visual, professional appeal for your products.