| Aspect Ratio |
The ratio of bar height to symbol length. |
| Background |
Area surrounding a bar code including quiet zone and spaces |
| Bar |
The darker (black) element of a bar code symbol |
| Bar Code |
An array of parallel bars and spaces encoding information |
| Bar Length |
The bar dimension perpendicular to the bar width |
| Bar Width |
The thickness of a bar measured from the edge closest to the symbol start character to the trailing edge of the same bar. |
| Code 128 |
A full alphanumeric bar code capable of encoding all 128 ASCII characters. |
| Data Matrix |
Variable size two dimensional matrix symbology that is inherently omnidirectional. Data Matrix has a high degree error correction capability and is used primarily for part marking and tracking. |
| Decoder |
A software or hardware means of translating bar codes into alphanumeric data. A bar code reader is required to scan the information into the decoder. |
| Direct Thermal |
A process in which a set of pins on a printhead are selectively heated onto heat-sensitive paper (or label stock). In turn, the paper turns dark and a bar code is formed. |
| DPI |
Dots per inch |
| EAN |
EAN is a voluntary, non-profit standards development association active in numbering, bar coding, and EDI messages for products, services, utilities, and transport units and locations. The EAN system is fully compatible with the Universal Product Code (UPC). |
| Laser Scanner |
An optical bar code reading device using a low-energy laser light beam for scanning. |
| Printhead |
The device on a direct thermal or thermal transfer printer containing the heating element that causes an image to be transferred to the facestock. |
| Quite Zone |
A clear space, containing no dark marks preceding the start character of a symbol and following the stop character |
| Ribbon |
Material used with thermal transfer printers producing visible marks on a label. A printhead is heated and the ribbon is burned onto the label stock producing the bar code. |
| Scanner |
A device that electro-optically converts bar codes into electrical signals |
| Thermal Transfer |
A process in which a set of pins on a printhead are selectively heated onto a ribbon and the ink from the ribbon is burned onto the label stock. Thermal transfer leaves a permanent image on the label. |
| 2-Dimensional Bar Code |
Two dimensional symbology composed of rows of data arranged in a rectangular or square pattern. The rows of data are stacked onto each other to encode an array of data. |
| X Dimension |
The dimension of the narrowest bar in a bar code |
